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Monika Flašíková Beňová
MEP
S&D
en
sk
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
I would like here to thank the representatives of the Commission and the Council for their opinion on the failure of human rights protection and justice in the Congo. The situation is indeed dramatic and drastic, and I think it was very well described by my colleague, Véronique De Keyser, in her speech. Despite this, ...
null
Alexander Graf Lambsdorff
MEP
ALDE
en
de
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo is still very worrying. It is particularly alarming that violence and a readiness to resort to violence are continuing to increase despite the presence of the European Union and the United Nations. We have been engaged in various missions in Congo for man...
null
Judith Sargentini
MEP
Greens/EFA
en
nl
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, as Europeans, we ourselves are partly to blame for the misery we are seeing in the eastern DRC. That there is still a very great deal of money to be earned by rebels selling precious metals like coltan for the telephony industry and the computer industry is due to the fact that we continue to buy them in...
null
Jan Zahradil
MEP
ECR
en
cs
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, this year is the Year of Africa and we remember here a whole host of countries which, fifty years ago, won independence from former colonial powers. However, when we look at development in some of these countries after those fifty years, unfortunately, we do not have many grounds for optimism. The same h...
null
Kinga Gál
MEP
PPE
en
en
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, as a member of the Sub-Committee on Human Rights, I strongly condemn the happenings of recent months in the Congo. In the 21st century, it is an inadmissible fact that killings, rape and child abuse are commonly used as a weapon of war while UN forces are present in the area. In the last five years, the n...
null
Richard Howitt
MEP
S&D
en
en
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, earlier this year, Denis Mukwege, a gynaecologist from Panzi in the DRC, came to our European Parliament and told us that the at least 200 000 rapes which have taken place in his country over the last fifteen years are too brutal to be described as such, and should instead be called sexual massacre, and t...
null
Anneli Jäätteenmäki
MEP
ALDE
en
en
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, the EU must hold itself responsible for standing by when defenceless women and children continue to suffer at the hands of gun-toting rebels and army men. It is time to move beyond rhetoric. We must take concrete measures to provide on-the-ground support to bolster the DRC security forces in conjunction w...
null
Barbara Lochbihler
MEP
Greens/EFA
en
de
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, I can only concur with the criticism and the condemnation of this brutal massacre, as well as the criticism of the UN mission that it failed to do all it could to prevent this massacre. Nevertheless, it is to be welcomed that the newly established position of Special Representative for Sexual Violence in...
null
Paweł Robert Kowal
MEP
ECR
en
pl
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
We are talking about this because we are alarmed by the situation in Congo, and because the people who live in that country have no guarantee of fundamental human rights. We are, therefore, horrified by the fact that the reports of observer organisations about respect for human rights are particularly alarming in the ...
null
Peter Šťastný
MEP
PPE
en
en
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, I can be counted among those in the very long line who sharply condemn the heinous crimes that took place in early August of this year in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Every society protects their weak and most vulnerable, so to hear such horrible news must be devastating to every decent human b...
null
Thijs Berman
MEP
S&D
en
nl
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, rape has become a daily weapon of war in the eastern DRC, with thousands of victims every year. The actual number is far higher than we know, because the women are unable to assert their rights and therefore often do not report what has happened. Rape is a seriously traumatising crime which results in de...
null
Fiona Hall
MEP
ALDE
en
en
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, today’s debate is focused on the terrible events which have occurred in the east of the DRC, but Member States continue to maintain that it is safe to return Congolese asylum seekers to Kinshasa because the capital is far removed from the insecure areas to the east. Unfortunately, the facts suggest otherw...
null
Tomasz Piotr Poręba
MEP
ECR
en
pl
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Fifty years after gaining its independence, Congo is a country which is still engulfed in a state of war and unremitting conflict, and is a country which, today, has been given the macabre name of the rape capital of the world. The shocking events of the last two months and the rapes of hundred of women and children –...
null
Barbara Matera
MEP
PPE
en
it
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a situation persists of armed conflict, extrajudicial executions, violence against women, utter violation of children’s rights, enlistment, maltreatment, violence against minors, mass evacuations, arms trading and exploitation of vast natural res...
null
Ana Gomes
MEP
S&D
en
pt
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, in April 2008, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the militia leader Bosco Ntaganda for war crimes such as enlisting child soldiers and the mass murder of civilians. Instead of handing him over to the court, the Kabila government promoted him to a top position in the Congolese ...
null
Marietje Schaake
MEP
ALDE
en
en
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, it is really unspeakably sad that the gravest crimes against humanity took place under the eye of the international community and the UN. We, here in the EU, need to step up our efforts and work together more effectively to make sure that the UN acts in line with the fundamental values that we know here i...
null
Mariya Nedelcheva
MEP
PPE
en
fr
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, all armed conflicts have disastrous consequences. However, a conflict that has lasted as long as the conflict in Congo, an army partly composed of children, and rape used as one of the chief weapons of war, all show that we are facing the utter denial of the rule of law. The most re...
null
Corina Creţu
MEP
S&D
en
ro
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
The European Parliament is adopting for the third year in succession a resolution on the violation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is a sign of major concern about this issue, but we have to admit, of ineffectiveness as well. We condemned back in 2008 the use of rape as a weapon of war. Now we ...
null
Antonyia Parvanova
MEP
ALDE
en
en
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, we cannot avoid focusing our attention today on the situation of women in Congo. We all know that women and children are the most vulnerable population groups in conflict zones, and that women are the ones suffering the most from the devastating consequences of the current events. Rape is becoming uncontr...
null
Anne Delvaux
MEP
PPE
en
fr
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, if the truth be known, in taking the floor today, it occurred to me that my previous speech on the subject, which I made almost a year ago, still has relevance. I spoke of extreme urgency, combating impunity and reassessing the MONUC mission. The same statements are being made and repeated, as are calls ...
null
Izaskun Bilbao Barandica
MEP
ALDE
en
es
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, according to the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, every year, there are 15 000 rapes in the Congo, the majority of which are used as a weapon of war against women and girls. Since July of this year, more than 500 rapes have been recorded and the United Nations has not t...
null
Licia Ronzulli
MEP
PPE
en
it
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo is a country that has undergone decades of exploitation and violence, as has already been stated many times, but it is worth repeating once more: violence that currently affects women, in particular and, unfortunately, children as well, as documented...
null
Joanna Katarzyna Skrzydlewska
MEP
PPE
en
pl
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Today’s debate on the Democratic Republic of Congo shows irrefutably the huge scale of the human rights problem in that country. For many years, the world’s media have been constantly sending reports about the crimes being committed there. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the scene of the worst of crimes against fu...
null
Alf Svensson
MEP
PPE
en
sv
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, we do not need to keep on citing the atrocities that the Congolese people have been, and are being, subjected to, and it is clearly a disgrace that the international community has not been able to put a stop to it. This disgrace also spills over to the EU and the European Parliament and to our Member Sta...
null
Anna Záborská
MEP
PPE
en
sk
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
We have spoken many times in the committees of the European Parliament and at the plenary sittings here in Strasbourg about what is happening in the Congo, and as we describe the situation, I find myself quite unable to reconcile it with the name of the country, which is the Democratic Republic of Congo. The rape of w...
null
Marc Tarabella
MEP
S&D
en
fr
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, on that day, soldiers attacked the village where Nadine and her family lived. They ordered her brother to rape her in front of the entire village. When he refused, they killed him. Then the soldiers forced her to drink her own urine before killing her three children aged four, two and one. They raped her...
null
Cristian Dan Preda
MEP
PPE
en
ro
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Margot Wallström, the United Nations special representative for violence against women and children in armed conflict, called the Democratic Republic of Congo ‘the rape capital of the world’. It is actually true that if we look at the figures made available to us by various organisations, we can only see barbarity, ho...
null
Maroš Šefčovič
EU Commission Vice-President
N/A
en
en
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, I would also like to thank the honourable Members for their interventions, new ideas and new proposals. I would like, too, to thank them for describing the situation in the Congo in such concrete terms, because we need to remind ourselves of how difficult the situation in that country still is. A very cle...
null
Olivier Chastel, on behalf of Catherine Ashton
N/A
N/A
en
fr
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, Minister, I would like to make three additional points in reply. First, as regards MONUSCO, many of you have referred to its role, or rather its passiveness. We have warned against the premature withdrawal of MONUSCO on several occasions in order to avoid a vacuum and the possibility of even greater dete...
null
President
EUROPARL President
N/A
en
en
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
I have received six motions for resolutions(1)tabled in accordance with Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure. The debate is closed. The vote will take place during the first part-session in October. Written statements (Rule 149)
null
Vilija Blinkevičiūtė
MEP
S&D
en
lt
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
The Conclusions of the European Council, adopted on 16 September, state that it is very important for the EU to be prepared to strengthen cooperation with Africa and to strive to reduce violations in the areas of international human rights law and humanitarian law. In terms of human rights violations, particular atten...
null
Joanna Senyszyn
MEP
S&D
en
pl
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
The forthcoming EU-Republic of South Africa and EU-Africa summits have to be a turning point in bringing to an end the violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rapid implementation of international measures to oppose the violation of human rights is imperative. In this region, slaughter, rape and murder have been...
null
Jarosław Leszek Wałęsa
MEP
PPE
en
pl
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
We are dealing, today, with the lack of respect for fundamental standards of international humanitarian law in the Democratic Republic of Congo – a country which appears to be democratic in name only. I would like to condemn vigorously the mass rapes committed recently against women and children, as well as all other ...
null
Zbigniew Ziobro
MEP
ECR
en
pl
2010-09-22T00:00:00
2010
Failures in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate) Video of the speechesPV
The conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo is unquestionably one of the most cruel of the last decade. Despite extensive pressure from the international community, the situation has not improved in the slightest. Testimony to this are the continued reports bringing information of brutal violations of fundamental...
null
Bernd Posselt
MEP
PPE
en
de
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Opening of the sittingVideo of the speechesPV
Mr President, you are an excellent President of this House, but I would like to protest about the people who plan our work here. We have known since last week that there was very little on the agenda today. Why then can the people planning the work not be so flexible as to give us better speaking times? I would gladly...
null
President
EUROPARL President
N/A
en
en
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Opening of the sittingVideo of the speechesPV
I take that comment very seriously. I have Mr Rouček with me, who will now chair the discussion, and will certainly be able to add time to your speech as necessary. Maybe not five minutes if the time allocated is two minutes, but let us say that we can exceed the time of the speech by 50%. This is a lot. If someone has...
null
Richard Seeber
MEP
PPE
en
de
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Opening of the sittingVideo of the speechesPV
Mr President, we know that you are a good President. Nevertheless, I would ask you to stick to the set timetable. I have a group of visitors, but I would like to speak during catch-the-eye. If you now allow Mr Posselt, Mr Brok and Mr van Nistelrooij to speak for five minutes then I will not be able to do that. Perhaps...
null
President
EUROPARL President
N/A
en
en
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Opening of the sittingVideo of the speechesPV
That is correct, you are right, but in individual cases and at special request, we will extend the time somewhat. I would like to ask Commissioner Štefan Füle to begin our discussion. Mr Füle, please take the floor on behalf of the Commission.
null
President
EUROPARL President
N/A
en
en
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
The next item is the statement by the Commission on the future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument for the cross-border cooperation programmes budget.
null
Štefan Füle
EU Commissioner
N/A
en
en
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, cross-border cooperation has been one of the main innovations under the Instrument for European neighbourhood policy. Back in 2006, we adopted a regulation which, for the first time, saw the full transposition of EU cross-border cooperation experience in an external relations environment. We wanted the ne...
null
Lambert van Nistelrooij
MEP
PPE
en
nl
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, Commissioner, in 2005 and 2006, within Parliament and with the Commission, we cooperated quickly and intensively on achieving the objectives of the European neighbourhood policy, including the objective of cross-border cooperation for citizens living in the regions concerned. To do so, we had to be very ...
null
Evgeni Kirilov
MEP
S&D
en
en
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, ensuring a stable and prosperous neighbourhood is the first priority of European foreign policy. It is in its neighbourhood that the EU can best exercise its soft stabilising power. It is also there that it needs to assess strategies and possibly replace them with other more relevant forms of engagement. ...
null
Kristiina Ojuland
MEP
ALDE
en
en
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, the Commissioner mentioned among other things his concern over the delays in presenting and launching the cross-border cooperation projects. I would like to point out that there are five land border programmes involving the Russian Federation as a partner country operating within the framework of the ENPI...
null
Malika Benarab-Attou
MEP
Greens/EFA
en
fr
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, as part of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI), two out of thirteen cross-border cooperation programmes are dedicated to the Mediterranean Basin. The first is the cooperation programme for the Mediterranean Basin. With the new generation of Eur...
null
Konrad Szymański
MEP
ECR
en
pl
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
After the experience of the past few years one thing is clear – cross-border cooperation within the context of the neighbourhood policy does not work. It has not been a success. Beyond a doubt, we must clarify the responsibilities of individual administrative institutions dealing with regional development, the neighbo...
null
Marie-Christine Vergiat
MEP
GUE/NGL
en
fr
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, the evaluation of the implementation of the European neighbourhood policy is not surprising. The evaluation is quite positive in view of the concerns of those who are currently governing Europe. Everything is fine. Trade is developing, so the most important thing is being preserved. Granted, this evaluat...
null
Derek Roland Clark
MEP
ID
en
en
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, what is the Commissioner thinking about? Has the Commission been asleep for the last two years? Here we are, at a time of economic stringency, despite what Mr Van Rompuy said this week. There are millions out of work, some newer Member States have still not got the promised financial package, and Germany ...
null
Andreas Mölzer
MEP
NI
en
de
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, in my opinion, if doubts are now starting to be expressed more or less openly in many Balkan countries about their own accession perspective, it serves to demonstrate the weaknesses of the European neighbourhood policy, as the countries of the Western Balkans that have a European perspective and those co...
null
Elmar Brok
MEP
PPE
en
de
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, this subject is a classic example of where regional policy and foreign policy coincide. In this regard, we need to show the necessary flexibility to enable us to implement regional policy – including with the experience of regional policy that we have within the Europe...
null
Csaba Sándor Tabajdi
MEP
S&D
en
hu
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Commissioner Füle, I agree with my fellow Members, like Mr Brok who spoke before me, who say that cross-border cooperation has considerable potential. I was a member of the national Parliament from a constituency on the Hungarian-Serbian border for almost 15 years, or, to be exact, my work brought me close to this are...
null
Riikka Manner
MEP
ALDE
en
fi
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, Commissioner, cross­border cooperation programmes are and will be absolutely crucial to improved and closer cooperation in the EU border regions. Administering these programmes under the heading of external relations, however, has proven problematic, and the special features of cross­border cooperation a...
null
Tomasz Piotr Poręba
MEP
ECR
en
pl
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
The European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument, including its cross-border cooperation programme, is a very important Community initiative combining features of international and inter-regional cooperation. It deserves our continued support as it allows regions situated near the outermost borders of the Europea...
null
László Surján
MEP
PPE
en
hu
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, Commissioner, the Commissioner said that fundamental national interests prevent the development of desirable cooperation with certain countries. I accept that there may be such interests, but I believe that governments in favour of confrontation rather than cooperation have misinterpreted their fundament...
null
Carl Haglund
MEP
ALDE
en
sv
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, as mentioned earlier in this debate, Russia chose not to take part in the cooperation in the context of the European neighbourhood policy, presumably because it feels that it was not treated in a sufficiently respectful manner. Instead, we have developed this strategic partnership, which unfortunately is...
null
Jacek Olgierd Kurski
MEP
ECR
en
pl
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Until now, the Eastern Partnership has been the first and only foreign-policy initiative from my country, Poland, which has been accepted by Brussels and the whole European Community. Its real political sense lies in attracting six post-Soviet states to the Union. In documents establishing the programme this is not me...
null
Bernd Posselt
MEP
PPE
en
de
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Thank you for your generosity, Mr President. Someone once said that borders are wounds that have been created by history. Nevertheless, borders are necessary. Everything has limits, and naturally the European Union must have limits, too. I was a leading advocate of enlargement, and I still am. South-Eastern Europe mus...
null
Charles Tannock
MEP
ECR
en
en
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, as the former rapporteur for the ENP in the last Parliament, I would say to Commissioner Füle that I remain sceptical as to whether one can really combine Morocco and Moldova under one policy umbrella. To an extent, the Eastern Partnership developments and the Euromed/Barcelona Process reflect my concerns...
null
Jaroslav Paška
MEP
ID
en
sk
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Good neighbourly relations form the basis of the decent coexistence of nations. Financial resources invested in improving relations between nations and neighbouring states result in improved co-existence, calm and peace in the regions, and – when put to good use - economic growth as well, stimulated by greater trust i...
null
Elena Băsescu
MEP
PPE
en
ro
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
I would like to take this opportunity to mention the 2007-2013 Joint Operational Programme Romania-Ukraine-Republic of Moldova. Funding for this programme is provided by the EU via the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument. Three projects submitted by Chişinău Municipal Council involving public lighting, t...
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Marek Henryk Migalski
MEP
ECR
en
pl
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Commissioner, I believe that expanding the Union eastwards, for which I know you have an excellent sense and understanding, is one of the most important obligations on the part of the European Union. This is because it is linked not only with our moral obligation but also with our political interest, and because expan...
null
Bastiaan Belder
MEP
ID
en
nl
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, Commissioner, at the last change of government in Kiev, Ukraine, I noticed and closely observed an increasing reinforcement of the Russian and Ukrainian secret services, and even some interconnection. Ukraine is situated between the European Union and Russia. Historically, the strong Russian influences i...
null
Iosif Matula
MEP
PPE
en
ro
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Cross-border cooperation is one of the most important means of creating a united, extended Europe, without any division lines. An important role is also played in this by the Joint Operational Programme, the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument and the 2007-2012 Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Romania-...
null
Andrew Henry William Brons
MEP
NI
en
en
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, if you really want to know what somebody is up to, you must listen to him telling you what he is not intending to do. The European Union’s description of its neighbourhood policy sounds like an old man of questionable character armed with a bag of sweets explaining how innocent his motives are. The Europe...
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Jan Kozłowski
MEP
PPE
en
pl
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
To begin, I would like to thank the Commissioner for his factual presentation and to express my conviction that not only the analysis prepared by the Commission setting out the experience gained between 2007 and 2009 but also today’s discussion will contribute to the improved implementation of the strategic aims of cr...
null
Marian-Jean Marinescu
MEP
PPE
en
ro
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
The European Parliament has constantly campaigned for an increase in the financial package for the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument. However, there are obstacles impeding its implementation due to complicated procedures and a lack of flexibility in the regulations for applying the European Neighbourho...
null
Michael Gahler
MEP
PPE
en
de
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, Commissioner, I am sure that we would agree that, on account of its size and significance, Ukraine is the most important country in the area covered by our neighbourhood policy, and I am really dismayed to see the developments in the domestic political situation there in recent months – it is indeed a ba...
null
Štefan Füle
EU Commissioner
N/A
en
en
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, honourable Members, this is not the first time I have addressed you, but for the first time I have received many questions which actually go beyond the framework of the original question. I welcome that and hope that I will be able to explain. Coming back to the original questions with which we started ou...
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President
EUROPARL President
N/A
en
en
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
The debate is closed. Written Statements (Rule 149)
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Dominique Baudis
MEP
PPE
en
fr
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Future allocation of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) for the cross-border cooperation programmes (CBC) budget (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Cross-border cooperation is essential for our neighbouring countries. How is it possible to have a prosperous and sustainable economy if the borders are closed? It provides better border security and intelligent management of migratory flows. However, some of our neighbouring regions, such as the Maghreb, do not know ...
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President
EUROPARL President
N/A
en
en
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
The next item is the statement from the Commission on the import of Laogai-made goods into the EU.
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Štefan Füle
EU Commissioner
N/A
en
en
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, honourable Members of Parliament, the issue raised in this question is indeed one that concerns fundamental human rights, which are core values of the European Union and which are also central to the Union’s external action. I can assure you of the Commission’s fundamental attachment to human rights, as w...
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Michael Gahler
MEP
PPE
en
de
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, it is fortuitous that we are holding this debate in the same part-session as the deliberations regarding the forthcoming EU-China summit. The issue of laogai camps has repercussions for both trade policy and human rights policy. I would like to focus on the human rights aspects here. Prisoners in China’s...
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Karin Kadenbach
MEP
S&D
en
de
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, Commissioner, I would like to preface my remarks by saying that the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament is very interested in constructive relations with the People’s Republic of China. Your response today disappointed me a little, however, because it ...
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Charles Goerens
MEP
ALDE
en
fr
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, there are more than a thousand camps, according to the estimates of the NGOs, 3 to 5 million people imprisoned, almost all of whom are accused of endangering the security of the State, and allegations of organ trafficking. Even if this list is not exhaustive, it is nonetheless very concerning. The forced...
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Marek Henryk Migalski
MEP
ECR
en
pl
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Commissioner, I would also like to join those who have said that your speech was rather disappointing, as this issue should be a key issue for us. There are approximately 7 million people in these camps. These people are very often subject to repression due to their religious or political views. Our moral and politica...
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Marie-Christine Vergiat
MEP
GUE/NGL
en
fr
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, we all know what the democracy and human rights situation is in China. We have just been talking about the European neighbourhood policy. These two matters have something in common: economic realism prevails. In the eyes of those who govern Europe, China is first and foremost a big market. We should not ...
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Lorenzo Fontana
MEP
ID
en
it
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, your words are certainly not what we expected as we were waiting for a stronger reaction on this issue. We cannot allow human rights to be subordinated to the economy, otherwise the existence of the European Union no longer makes sense. There are millions of people in ...
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Daniel Caspary
MEP
PPE
en
de
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, we are all aware that the laogai network is the front for an intolerable system of enforced labour camps in China. The very existence of these labour camps is intolerable, but I find it repellent that many of the products manufactured there find their way into our shops. These labour camps are not just u...
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Gesine Meissner
MEP
ALDE
en
de
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, Commissioner, you have stated that human rights are core values in the European Union. Last December, we proudly signed off on the Treaty of Lisbon and the legally binding Convention on Human Rights associated with it. What you have said is absolutely correct and of vital importance: we must defend these...
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Fiorello Provera
MEP
ID
en
it
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to add a few figures to those cited by my fellow Members: there are more than 1 000 certified laogai camps, between 40 and 50 million prisoners have spent time in the laogai since 1949 and in particular there are 314 commercial companies linked to the laogai. The laogai...
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Cristian Dan Preda
MEP
PPE
en
ro
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
As you are aware, Article 11 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulates the right to a fair trial. Obviously, laogai, which is re-education through labour, blatantly violates this right. As my fellow Members before me have stated, laogai camps do more than this. They subject prisoners to torture and degra...
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Cristiana Muscardini
MEP
PPE
en
it
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, those who worship the god of money do not care if that money has blood on it. The Chinese Government uses the manpower of these people under inhumane working conditions and continues to export goods with blood on them to Europe. I do not think that the moral issue will help the Euro...
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Tunne Kelam
MEP
PPE
en
en
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, Commissioner, we should not forget that a substantial part of China’s economic rise is due to the prison economy. The laogai system has been the most important tool of massive political oppression and has included since 1949 about 50 million inmates. Even today there are up to five million detainees. Most...
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Martin Kastler
MEP
PPE
en
de
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, incarcerating people in labour camps because they do not share the same views as a governing regime is a crime against human dignity. Slave labour camps, re-education camps and internment camps – these are all anachronisms that have lost none of their repugnance in the 21st century, wherever in the world...
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Michael Theurer
MEP
ALDE
en
de
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, Commissioner, my fellow Members have explained that it is an urgent human rights issue that the import of these products into the European Union should be halted. I am also of the opinion that, in the context of such inhuman conditions, the question arises as to whether these products are being sold at d...
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Eva Lichtenberger
MEP
Greens/EFA
en
de
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Thank you very much Mr President. Commissioner, you said: in the context of relations with China, this is a very delicate subject. That is clear. In my opinion, however, partners who do business together and who establish a partnership on a global level, must not only hammer home their own values in negotiations, but ...
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Charles Tannock
MEP
ECR
en
en
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, China is an economic capitalist wonder but it is essentially a brutal one-party Communist state. One of the more unpleasant facts is the forced ‘re-education’ through labour camps, or laogais, to which millions of dissenters or political opponents – from Uighurs to Falun Gong practitioners and, in the pas...
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Jaroslav Paška
MEP
ID
en
sk
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
The Laogai camps, named after the Chinese words ‘lao’ – meaning ‘re-education’ - and ‘gai’ – meaning ‘labour’ – began to be established in China shortly after the communist takeover in 1948. Almost 50 million Chinese have been imprisoned in the camps since their inception, and only half of these ever returned home. Ac...
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Nick Griffin
MEP
NI
en
en
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, the prospect of being jailed for thought crimes is shocking. Unlike most of the people here, I can tell you that from personal experience. The British Government has tried to jail me three times under anti-free-speech laws that state that telling the truth is no defence. So I am very sympathetic to Chines...
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Andrew Henry William Brons
MEP
NI
en
en
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, whether or not it should be permissible to sell goods which prisoners have been compelled to make must depend on whether the prisoners have committed real offences, as distinct from political ones – of course in China we know exactly what the offences are – on whether the judicial system is fair and, cert...
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Štefan Füle
EU Commissioner
N/A
en
en
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
Mr President, honourable Members, China’s economic development is unparalleled in modern economic history, and it is playing an increasingly important role on the world scene. This role also entails responsibilities, such as respect for fundamental rights and core labour rights. It is crucial for the Chinese leadership...
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President
EUROPARL President
N/A
en
en
2010-09-23T00:00:00
2010
Import of Laogai-made goods into the EU (debate) Video of the speechesPV
The debate is closed.
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President
EUROPARL President
N/A
en
en
2010-10-06T00:00:00
2010
Statements by the PresidentVideo of the speechesPV
On Monday, Hungary experienced the greatest disaster in the country’s history. A spill from a reservoir containing highly toxic red sludge cost the lives of at least three people. Many hundreds have been injured. On behalf of the European Parliament, I would like to express our solidarity with the families of those who...
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President
EUROPARL President
N/A
en
en
2010-10-06T00:00:00
2010
Order of businessVideo of the speechesPV
The final version of the draft agenda as drawn up by the Conference of Presidents at its meeting of Thursday, 23 September 2010, pursuant to Rule 140 of the Rules of Procedure, has been distributed. By agreement with the political groups, I would like to inform the House of proposals to make the following changes: (The...
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Corien Wortmann-Kool
MEP
PPE
en
en
2010-10-06T00:00:00
2010
Order of businessVideo of the speechesPV
Mr President, the EPP always welcomes good and thorough discussions on social topics during our plenary sittings, but they have to be well prepared. That was the reason why it was initially decided by a majority decision in the Conference of Presidents that the proposal from the Social Democratic group to discuss servi...
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President
EUROPARL President
N/A
en
en
2010-10-06T00:00:00
2010
Order of businessVideo of the speechesPV
Thank you, Mrs Wortmann-Kool, for your explanation. This means that this item is entered on the agenda, but that the Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) has abstained from voting. The majority of the other political groups wanted this item to be included in the agenda. (The order of business was ...
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President
EUROPARL President
N/A
en
en
2010-10-06T00:00:00
2010
Formal sitting - Timor-OrientalVideo of the speechesPV
Welcome to the European Parliament, Mr President. Welcome once again after 18 years.
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José Ramos-Horta
N/A
N/A
en
pt
2010-10-06T00:00:00
2010
Formal sitting - Timor-OrientalVideo of the speechesPV
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I will start by remarks in English, and then I will switch to Portuguese, and then back to English. I would be able to address you in five of the European languages, but I will not do that because I will get confused myself, so I will stick to two: English and Portuguese. I am gratef...
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President
EUROPARL President
N/A
en
en
2010-10-06T00:00:00
2010
Formal sitting - Timor-OrientalVideo of the speechesPV
Thank you very much, Mr President. Eighteen years ago, as leader of the opposition in East Timor, you showed great courage and great vision. Today, you are the President of a free, democratic, independent country. Congratulations to you, Mr President, and all the best to your country and your people. Thank you for your...
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President
EUROPARL President
N/A
en
en
2010-10-07T00:00:00
2010
EU cohesion and regional policy after 2013 - Future of the European Social Fund (debate) Video of the speechesPV
We apologise for the slight delay caused by the traffic. I would recommend that everyone walk to Parliament for three reasons. The first reason is to arrive on time. The second is because it is healthy. The third is that it causes less pollution. So, let us all walk to Parliament! The next item is the joint debate on t...
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