unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Direction of EU-Russia political relations
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Michal Šimečka
Political group: Renew
Country: Italy
Language: SK

Vážený pán predsedajúci. To, čo európska politika voči Rusku dnes potrebuje asi najviac, je realizmus. Je jasná predstava o tom, kde sú v tom vzťahu naše záujmy, kde sú hrozby a čo vieme realisticky dosiahnuť dialógom s Moskvou, alebo čo nevieme dosiahnuť. A nemá naozaj zmysel postaviť európsku politiku voči Rusku na démonizácii Putina alebo Rusov. Ale rovnako nemá zmysel postaviť ju na naivnej viere, že Moskve dnes záleží a má úprimný záujem na dobrých vzťahoch s Európskou úniou a rešpekt medzinárodnému právu, lebo nemá. A realizmus nám hovorí, že Rusko robí a naďalej bude robiť kroky na oslabenie našich demokracií, našej jednoty, našej bezpečnosti a suverenity našich partnerov. A preto našou základnou povinnosťou je brániť sa. Brániť naše záujmy, naše demokratické inštitúcie proti štátnemu terorizmu, proti politickej destabilizácii, špinavým peniazom alebo proti kyberútokom. Tými nástrojmi, ktoré dobre popisuje táto správa. Samozrejme, hľadajme oblasti, kde môžeme s Rusmi spolupracovať. Pripravujme sa na postputinovu éru, ale stratégiu musíme postaviť na realite, ktorá sa tak skoro nezmení.
Debate: Direction of EU-Russia political relations
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Filip De Man
Political group: ID
Country: France
Language: NL

Voorzitter, in deze aanbeveling staat dat Rusland integraal deel uitmaakt van het Europees continent, dat er sterke historische banden bestaan en dat Rusland een van onze grootste handelspartners is. Redenen genoeg dus om zo’n buurland diplomatisch te benaderen. In plaats daarvan dreigt men echter met bergen sancties. Rusland wil zich niet plooien naar de links-liberale dogma’s – zo ook Polen en Hongarije – en daarom worden alle duivels losgelaten. Europa zou er beter aan doen een goede verstandhouding na te streven. Het gaat om een reusachtig land met enorme voorraden grondstoffen. Met een verstandige aanpak zouden we met onze technologie en onze financiële middelen een formidabele economische samenwerking kunnen opzetten die beide partijen ten goede zou komen. Men doet echter liever zaken met bijvoorbeeld fundamentalistische golfstaten of het communistisch regime in Peking. Wat een hypocrisie en domheid!
Debate: Direction of EU-Russia political relations
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Hermann Tertsch
Political group: ECR
Country: France
Language: ES

Señor presidente, es difícil decir si es posible para la Unión Europea tener unas relaciones normalizadas con la Rusia de Vladimir Putin y, sin embargo, tenemos que intentarlo.  Este informe dice muchas cosas y muy duras y muy ciertas. Llevamos 20 años demostrando que Putin no es fiable. No respeta el Derecho internacional ni las convenciones ni, por supuesto, los derechos humanos, ni dentro ni fuera de Rusia: desde los asesinatos de miembros de la oposición o el encarcelamiento de Navalny a la invasión y anexión de Crimea; desde las operaciones de desinformación con Puigdemont y separatistas catalanes a las agresiones a Ucrania o provocaciones al Báltico.  Son muchos los obstáculos, hoy por hoy insalvables, que ponen al presidente Putin en unas relaciones que podrían ser y deberían ser mucho más intensas y beneficiosas para ambas partes.  La Unión Europea ha de ser firme y estar unida frente a la Rusia de Putin. Por eso, son condenables iniciativas que dividen, como la egoísta aventura alemana del North Stream II.  A un tiempo, la Unión Europea debe insistir en esa cooperación con Rusia, porque Rusia seguirá ahí cuando Putin acabe, esa Rusia cuyo futuro no puede ser convertirse en la reserva de materias primas para China. Necesitamos en Rusia un cooperador para el futuro y de alguna forma tenemos que hacerlo.
Debate: Direction of EU-Russia political relations
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Traian Băsescu
Political group: PPE
Country: Romania
Language: RO

Domnule președinte, de acord cu nevoia de cooperare cu Rusia, subliniată în raport. Dar până la cooperare trebuie să constatăm că Rusia a ocupat prin forță teritorii a trei state asociate Uniunii Europene. Rusia desfășoară campanii virulente de dezinformare în toate statele Parteneriatului estic, dar și în state membre UE. De pe teritoriul Rusiei, se lansează frecvent atacuri cibernetice împotriva obiectivelor din state membre UE și NATO. Prin concentrarea de resurse militare în Crimeea și Kaliningrad, Rusia este o amenințare directă și explicită la securitatea Uniunii.  Adesea, Rusia utilizează gazele exportate în Uniune ca pârghie de influențare a deciziei politice. Strategia noastră de reducere a dependenței energetice față de Rusia este o hârtie fără valoare, atâta timp cât North Stream devine o realitate. Rezultatul dependenței noastre de importurile de gaze din Rusia este că Rusia face ce vrea la frontiera estică a Uniunii și atunci care sunt pilonii politicii noastre externe unitare față de Rusia? Eu nu știu.
Debate: Direction of EU-Russia political relations
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Sven Mikser
Political group: S-D
Country: Hungary
Language: EN

Mr President, we must not abandon hope and we must seek cooperation with those in Russia who share our core values, so that one day we can have a constructive partner in Moscow. In the meantime, we must admit that there are certain key differences between our world outlook and value system and those of the current Russian regime. This sets limits on how trusting our relationship can be.  Let’s work our way, so to say, from inside out. First, the way Russia treats its own people – Russia’s human rights record – is ugly. It’s treatment of dissidents and political opposition is truly horrible. Second, the way Russia disrespects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its closest neighbours is in contravention of international law and contrary to the EU’s special security interest.  Third, and most importantly, we must consider the way Russia keeps interfering in our internal affairs, be it by supporting radical populist parties, be it under the guise of protecting the so-called traditional values, or be it by promoting conspiracy theories aimed at undermining Europeans’ trust in our democratically elected institutions. So yes, we need to work with Russia on common challenges, but we must always remain sober, alert and situationally aware.
Debate: Direction of EU-Russia political relations
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Maximilian Krah
Political group: ID
Country: Greece
Language: DE

Herr Präsident, liebe Kollegen! Herr Kollege, dieser Bericht, den wir hier vorliegen haben, ist eine Kriegserklärung eines Kalten Krieges. Er ist in Tonfall und Inhalt aggressiv, und er lässt keine Möglichkeit einer konstruktiven Kooperation mit Russland zu.  Das mag die Mehrheit hier so wünschen, aber Sie haben nicht die Mehrheit der Bürgerinnen und Bürger hinter sich. In Deutschland haben drei Viertel der Wahlberechtigten in einer Umfrage erklärt, dass sie hinter  Diese Russophobie, die hier gepflegt wird, hat keine Wurzeln in den Bevölkerungen, und sie ist darüber hinaus auch von Doppelstandards geprägt. Wir reden über Herrn Nawalny, einen hochproblematischen Rassisten. Aber wieso redet niemand über Herrn Medwedtschuk, den Oppositionsführer in Kiew, der unter Hausarrest steht? Der eine darf eingeknastet werden, der gewählte Parlamentarier, und der andere, mit Wirtschaftsstraftaten, nicht. Das können Sie nicht erklären, genauso wenig, wie Sie Ihre Russophobie erklären können.  Und deshalb werden wir weiter daran arbeiten, Frieden durch Verständigung, durch Verständnis und durch Diplomatie zu erreichen – auch wenn wir damit in der Minderheit sind. Klares Nein zum Bericht.
Debate: Direction of EU-Russia political relations
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Dace Melbārde
Political group: ECR
Country: Bulgaria
Language: LV

Priekšsēdētāja kungs! Es Eiropas Parlamentā pārstāvu Latviju, kas atrodas Krievijas tiešā ģeopolitiskā tuvumā. Un mūsu vēsture mums diemžēl māca nelolot naivas ilūzijas attiecībās ar Krievijas autoritāriem režīmiem. Izmantojot dezinformāciju un citas hibrīdiejaukšanās formas, arī šobrīd Krievija — Kremlis — pastāvīgi iejaucas mūsu valsts iekšpolitikā un cenšas šķelt mūsu sabiedrību, tajā skaitā Putins aktīvi atbalsta Baltkrievijas diktatoru Lukašenko, tostarp tā īstenoto hibrīduzbrukumu, kas šobrīd ciniski organizē migrantu plūsmas uz Latviju, Lietuvu un Poliju.  Neatkarīgu mediju stiprināšana ir viena no atbildēm Kremļa manipulācijām. Eiropas Savienība ir spērusi pirmos soļus visaptverošas mediju politikas izveidē, un es esmu pārliecināta, ka tās ietvaros mums ir jāizveido spēcīgs Eiropas Mediju fonds. Pienācīgs atbalsts neatkarīgajiem medijiem ir nepieciešams gan Eiropas Savienības iekšienē, īpašu uzmanību pievēršot tām valstīm, kas robežojas ar Krieviju, gan arī Austrumu partnerības valstu un Krievijas brīvajiem medijiem, jo šādi ir iespējams atmaskot Putina autoritāro režīmu un stiprināt cerību Krievijas un arī Baltkrievijas tautās, ka pārmaiņas ir iespējamas.
Debate: Direction of EU-Russia political relations
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Alexander Alexandrov Yordanov
Political group: PPE
Country: Bulgaria
Language: BG

Г-н Председател, колеги, поздравявам колегата Кобилюс за неговия доклад. Той представя дългосрочна стратегия за отношенията ни с Руската федерация. Особено важно е, че в него се прави разграничение между режима в Кремъл и руските граждани. Важни са и направените в доклада препоръки към Комисията и Съвета. Днес няма по-голяма заплаха за европейската сигурност и ценности от режима на Путин. Моята България, например, отдавна е обект на руска хибридна атака. Затова и в момента страната е в политическа криза, в дестабилизация и хаос. Президентът и неговото служебно правителство налагат методи на управление, характерни за режима в Кремъл. Предстоят трети поред, само за половин година, парламентарни избори. Колеги, призовавам ви да подкрепим доклада, за да докажем, че сме отговорни към нашия Съюз, към днешните и бъдещи поколения на Европа и Русия.
Debate: Direction of EU-Russia political relations
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Pierfrancesco Majorino
Political group: S-D
Country: Ireland
Language: IT

Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, il pessimo livello dello stato delle relazioni politiche tra l'Unione europea e la Russia è un dato eclatante che non possiamo negare e con cui bisogna evidentemente fare i conti, affrontando con la dovuta nettezza anche le conseguenze. Da tempo l'Unione, i suoi processi democratici e quelli dei suoi Stati membri sono sotto attacco con più o meno evidenti tentativi di interferenze da parte di potenze straniere: la Russia è una di queste, forse la più esplicita, e ha trovato anche in Europa complici politici disposti a sostenerla, complici che siedono pure in quest'Aula. Stiamo giustamente maturando consapevolezza rispetto a ciò, occorre però anche mettere in campo tutti gli strumenti necessari a difesa dei nostri valori e della nostra democrazia.  Ora dobbiamo fare di più, dobbiamo rafforzare decisamente il rapporto con quella società civile russa che, tra mille difficoltà, prova oggi a costruire spazi di alternativa e di democrazia, promuove la libera informazione e i diritti civili, lotta contro ogni discriminazione. Essa, questa parte di Russia, deve essere il nostro alleato.
Debate: Direction of EU-Russia political relations
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Gunnar Beck
Political group: ID
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Herr Präsident! Dieser Bericht wirft Russland vor, die eigene Einflusssphäre auszubauen, die westliche liberale Demokratie zu diskreditieren, Völkerrecht und LGBT-Rechte zu missachten und, man horche, die eigenen nationalen Interessen zu verfolgen. Vielleicht ist es Teil der EU-Klimapolitik, politisch neue Eiszeiten auf den Weg zu bringen. Eine Rezeptur für bessere Beziehungen zu Russland ist der Bericht kaum. Bedenken Sie bitte: Wer assistierte der NATO seit 20 Jahren bei ihren postliberalen Kreuzzügen vom Atlantik bis zum Hindukusch? Wer finanziert westliche
Debate: Announcement of voting results
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Véronique Trillet-Lenoir
Political group: Renew
Country: Spain
Language: EN

Madam President, following the votes that have just taken place, I would like to request that the serious cross-border threats to health report, as well as the ECDC file, on behalf of Ms Kopcińska, be referred back to the committee responsible for interinstitutional negotiations pursuant to Rule 59(4).
Debate: Direction of EU-Russia political relations
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Peter van Dalen
Political group: PPE
Country: Italy
Language: NL

Voorzitter, ze liegen, we weten dat ze liegen en zij weten dat wij weten dat ze liegen. Deze historische woorden uit de Goelag Archipel gelden nog altijd voor het schrikbewind in Moskou. Rusland, waar wetteloosheid en willekeur heersen en waar in de rechtszaal toneelstukjes worden opgevoerd met een officier van justitie in een uniform en een rechter in een ambtsgewaad. “Wanneer de grondslagen zijn vernield, wat kan de rechtvaardige dan nog doen?” aldus psalm 11. Gelukkig zijn er mensen die opstaan en opstonden voor een beter en ander Rusland: Solzjenitsyn, Politkovskaja, Nemtsov en Navalny. Navalny ontving onlangs vanuit Genève de prijs voor morele moed van het Forum voor Mensenrechten en Democratie. Laten wij achter hem en de Russische oppositie gaan staan door aan hem de Sacharovprijs van dit Parlement uit te reiken.
Debate: Direction of EU-Russia political relations
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Jytte Guteland
Political group: S-D
Language: SV

Fru talman! Klimatförändringar utgör vårt enskilt största säkerhetspolitiska hot. Utfasningen av fossila bränslen kommer att förändra den geopolitiska dynamiken i världen – var så säker! Det ligger i Rysslands eget intresse att inte halka efter i klimatomställningen. Därför behöver EU, tillsammans med USA, öka ansträngningarna inför COP 26 i syfte att främja dialog och samverkan med Ryssland, för att gemensamt tackla de globala klimatförändringarna. EU:s förbindelser med Ryssland måste klimatsäkras.  Samtidigt måste också EU bredda och utveckla stödet för demokrati, mänskliga rättigheter, jämställdhet, miljö och klimat. Stödet bör strategiskt främja en demokratisk utveckling och bidra till stärkt yttrandefrihet, ökad respekt för mänskliga rättigheter och rättsstatens principer. EU bör fortsatt stötta det civila samhället och främja det mellanfolkliga utbytet. Den politiska utvecklingen i Ryssland är synnerligen oroande, men medborgarna strävar likt alla folk efter en demokratisk framtid. Vi bör tålmodigt, långsiktigt och varaktigt stötta en demokratisk framtid i Ryssland.
Debate: Direction of EU-Russia political relations
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Francisco José Millán Mon
Political group: PPE
Country: Spain
Language: ES

Señora presidenta, gracias al ponente, señor Kubilius, por su informe tan detallado y ambicioso.  Rusia está habitualmente en nuestros debates. Es un país europeo vecino con el que tenemos numerosos vínculos y es un importante actor internacional. Rusia no puede sernos indiferente.  Pero, desgraciadamente, nuestras relaciones con Rusia pasan por una etapa muy negativa. La guerra de Georgia en 2008, la anexión ilegal de Crimea en 2014 y el conflicto en las regiones orientales de Ucrania son la causa principal, junto con la deriva autoritaria en la política interna rusa. Estamos en una línea de alejamiento creciente.  Moscú tiene intereses diferentes de los de la Unión Europea, a menudo contrapuestos, y una visión distinta del orden internacional desde una posición revisionista y anacrónica. Además, es muy preocupante su actitud intervencionista, ayudando y promoviendo maniobras desestabilizadoras en Estados miembros. Recientemente, los medios de comunicación han revelado sus conexiones con los secesionistas catalanes.  Veo muy difícil que la relación con Rusia, con la Rusia actual, pueda mejorar. En materia de valores y principios democráticos, Putin también busca diferenciarse claramente de la Unión Europea.
Debate: Direction of EU-Russia political relations
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Radosław Sikorski
Political group: PPE
Country: Sweden
Language: EN

Madam President, Politkovskaya, Litvinenko, Skripal, Nemtsov, Navalny. These names speak for themselves. Just in the last few days, we have the consummation of the Union of Russia and Belarus. We have the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and we have the aggressive military exercises called the Zapad.  Let’s remember that Russia was welcomed into collaboration with the West. This organisation offered it Partnership and Cooperation Agreement 1, and we were due to have a partnership and cooperation agreement 2, which was an association agreement in everything but name.  We were supposed to be on a converging trajectory, but Mr Putin, who had a chance to modernise his society and his institutions, instead went for the traditional way – foreign expansion and foreign policy swagger at the expense of the interests of the Russian people. He now finds what dictators always find: that if you’ve stolen too much and killed too many people, you can’t go back. His interest is in the alliance of autocracies. The interests of Russian people is modernisation. I believe he will go down in history as someone who prepared Russia badly for the challenge of rising China.  In the meantime, we need to deter him, therefore, I support the Kubilius report.
Debate: Direction of EU-Russia political relations
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Helmut Geuking
Political group: PPE
Country: Spain
Language: DE

Frau Präsidentin! Als erstes möchte ich Herrn Kubilius danken für diesen Bericht. Der Bericht spricht genau das aus, was ich beim letzten Entschließungsantrag schon gesagt habe: Wir müssen über den Tellerrand hinausschauen, denn es gibt auch ein Russland nach Putin, und Putin ist nicht gleich Russland. Und das spiegelt der Bericht wunderbar wider – erstmalig, dass er das widerspiegelt. Dafür, Herr Kubilius, dass Sie das aufgegriffen haben, meinen herzlichen Dank! Ja, der Bericht ist in seiner Klarheit und Wahrheit ganz eindeutig, und er spricht eine deutliche Sprache. Aber jetzt liegt es an uns, auch entsprechend nachzusetzen, indem wir sagen: Wir müssen jetzt ein Signal geben, dass wir es nicht nur bei diesen Reden belassen, sondern wir müssen jetzt ein Signal geben, indem wir die Länder Georgien, Ukraine, Moldawien mehr einbinden und unter das Dach Europa holen. Georgien ist schon längst soweit, Georgien gehört unter das Dach Europa – und die Ukraine: Ich bin erst am Freitag aus der Ukraine zurückgekommen, den Menschen, die so herzig sind, die zu Europa streben und nach Europa möchten, müssen wir hilfreich zur Seite stehen, dass sie das auch schnellstens verwirklichen können. Wir müssen da eine gewisse Dynamik hineinbringen, damit wir hier Zeichen setzen. Allerdings müssen wir auch Zeichen setzen – und da stimme ich übrigens zu: Wir dürfen die EU nicht mit der NATO gleichsetzen. Das heißt, diese Länder sollten darauf verzichten, NATO-Mitglied zu werden, aber dafür unter das Dach der EU kommen, und das schnellstens. Und wenn wir das beherzigen, dann werden wir auch einen Weg finden, um Russland zu demokratisieren. Aber das wird, da gebe ich Ihnen Recht, erst nach Putin der Fall sein.
Debate: Direction of EU-Russia political relations
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Rasa Juknevičienė
Political group: PPE
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Madam President, I want to congratulate Andrius. He worked hard and from his heart, because he sincerely believes that there is a possible future for a different Russia.  The Kremlin likes to call many of us ‘Russophobes’, but we are exactly the opposite. Putin is the biggest Russophobe of all. He is afraid of Russians. He is afraid of the upcoming elections. That is why he has already eliminated all possible competition. It is clear that the upcoming Duma elections will not be real elections, but another Kremlin manipulation. They have already lost their legitimacy. It is good that the report addresses this. This report is significant. We can see that from the reaction of the Kremlin and its proxies. Now they monitor and react to every related development. I invite all those whose hands are not tied by the Kremlin to vote in favour and to unite towards a clear and effective strategy to address the authoritarian regimes around us.
Debate: Direction of EU-Russia political relations
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Jutta Urpilainen
Language: EN

The basic assumption as defined in the report, namely that the EU should differentiate between Putin’s regime and Russian society, is already an integral part of the five guiding principles which we will continue to implement in a balanced way.  We will continue to maintain a firm stance against human rights violations and breaches of international law. The flexing of muscles by Russia abroad, together with increased repression at home, raises concerns. Democratisation should originate from within society. The role of the EU here is support, independent media and pluralism.  When it comes to any attempts to undermine EU interests, the Union itself must become more robust and resilient. We must keep developing the EU’s cyber security and defence capacity, as well as the strategic communication capabilities by stepping up work on foreign information, manipulation and disinformation. A strengthened cooperation with the Eastern neighbourhood and our support to democratic reforms as the backbone of our policy remain our utmost interest.  At the same time, Russia will not go away. We need to move from a more reactive position to a proactive one to defend our values and interests at EU, regional and global levels. The European Union remains engaged in this endeavour with realism and determination.
Debate: Direction of EU-Russia political relations
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Pedro Marques
Political group: S-D
Country: Czechia
Language: PT

Nessa caminhada rumo à democracia, a UE tem um papel a desempenhar. A maioria de nós entende que o Conselho deve adotar uma estratégia de incentivos às tendências democráticas da Rússia. E a maioria de nós faz questão de distinguir a Rússia dos russos.  Temos de contrabalançar a escalada da Rússia e da China para enfraquecer a democracia em todo o mundo. Temos de diminuir a dependência do gás, do petróleo e de outras matérias—primas russas. Temos de endurecer sanções de diversa ordem: políticas e de combate a fluxos financeiros ilícitos. Temos de apoiar os ativistas de direitos humanos russos.  Se o fizermos, talvez um dia a Rússia venha a ser uma democracia.