15/05/2017

:02:41. > :03:54.TRANSLATION: Handing over to Mr Lundgren, go ahead. Mr President, I

:03:55. > :03:59.would like to make a point of order, concerning article 11 about a

:04:00. > :04:07.manifestation that took place in 27th April in Brussels. A

:04:08. > :04:11.demonstration of one of our Swedish colleague, who showed solidarity to

:04:12. > :04:16.a Palestinian terrorist, a man who is convicted of three terror attacks

:04:17. > :04:21.in which five persons were murdered, including a mother of two children.

:04:22. > :04:26.Also, attempted murder, membership in a terror organisation and

:04:27. > :04:32.conspiring to commit a crime. He was acquitted of 33 other murders, which

:04:33. > :04:38.he was charged for because of a lack of evidence. In this house, we

:04:39. > :04:43.cannot accept a manifestation of showing solidarity with convicted

:04:44. > :04:48.terrorists. I demand that you, as the president of the European

:04:49. > :04:52.Parliament, will take a responsibility seriously and look

:04:53. > :05:04.into this matter. Thank you. APPLAUSE

:05:05. > :05:10.TRANSLATION: Thank you very much president. I'm turning towards you

:05:11. > :05:16.and to colleagues in the chamber to say that the council and seven

:05:17. > :05:23.member states have been blocking aid to the areas in central Italy struck

:05:24. > :05:27.by the earthquake. I'd like to denounce this fact and so I'd like

:05:28. > :05:31.to call on all colleagues, seven months after the disaster, still

:05:32. > :05:34.most of the people affected still live in tents and there's no hope

:05:35. > :05:40.for a normal life to resume at the moment. So please, if we really do

:05:41. > :05:43.want to change things, we've got to show our solidarity. Let's do

:05:44. > :05:51.something as quickly as possible, we need to be building houses for these

:05:52. > :05:55.people as soon as possible. TRANSLATION: Of course, the Speaker

:05:56. > :05:59.will be representing the position of the Parliament during the trial log.

:06:00. > :06:05.Our position as a Parliament has been extremely clear on this, so I

:06:06. > :06:11.would refer you to the representative of that particular

:06:12. > :06:17.issue. We know our issues and our views on this. So I would refer you

:06:18. > :06:25.to that. We hold that as a very important issue in our hearts. Thank

:06:26. > :06:29.you Mr President. On 14th February in this very chamber one of the

:06:30. > :06:34.members of this Parliament referred to Israel as a terrorist state. I

:06:35. > :06:37.objected to that at the time during the foreign affairs debate. I

:06:38. > :06:41.understand it was referred to the bureau. I will be writing to you

:06:42. > :06:54.personally Mr President asking why no action has been taken, thank you.

:06:55. > :07:01.TRANSLATION: I'd like to be very clear on this and on other issues, I

:07:02. > :07:07.do not intend to suffocate any kind of political debate within this

:07:08. > :07:13.chamber, but if everybody starts to ask for sanctions to be put in place

:07:14. > :07:18.everybody time they disagree with something somebody has said, I mean

:07:19. > :07:23.we have to look at whether our values as a European Parliament are

:07:24. > :07:28.being trampled on or not. I do not want to sensor any debate. I will

:07:29. > :07:36.not be doing that otherwise we will never get to the end of this kind of

:07:37. > :07:41.thing. If somebody is criticising somebody else or attacking a state,

:07:42. > :07:45.if these are just political attacks, verbal attacks, I don't think

:07:46. > :07:53.intervention is required. By way of sanctions. This applies to what

:07:54. > :08:01.you've just said, Sir, but on other issues as well, whether people

:08:02. > :08:05.pronounce vulgar accusations or statements, things that will flout

:08:06. > :08:08.the values of the European Union, that is different, otherwise coming

:08:09. > :08:11.in with sanctions every time somebody disagrees with what

:08:12. > :08:23.somebody else has said, I think that would be going too far. Go ahead.

:08:24. > :08:27.TRANSLATION: Thank you very much indeed president. I have

:08:28. > :08:35.unfortunately to say that Greece and Cyprus, two member states of the

:08:36. > :08:41.European Union have been victims of expansionist threats by Turkey and

:08:42. > :08:45.there have been violations of airspace and maritime spaces and

:08:46. > :08:55.there's been a blockade placed on a member of the European Union. There

:08:56. > :09:00.have also been questions raised regarding damages incurred by

:09:01. > :09:03.European companies who are trying to prospect for gas resources. Our

:09:04. > :09:10.sovereign rights are being violated but also the rights of the European

:09:11. > :09:19.Union. And we believe that it is necessary for action to be taken and

:09:20. > :09:24.the European Parliament and European Union have to react, just as is the

:09:25. > :09:31.case whenever there are other cases in the member states of the European

:09:32. > :09:39.Union, where threats have been experienced. You cannot just have a

:09:40. > :09:44.country like Turkey using this rhetoric and not do anything,

:09:45. > :09:48.because there are now real dangers in this part of the world. We're

:09:49. > :09:52.asking for your solidarity and we're asking for a real reaction. We're

:09:53. > :09:55.asking for measures to be taken against a country that is

:09:56. > :09:58.jeopardising the stability of the region and which is violating the

:09:59. > :10:03.principles and values of the European Union.

:10:04. > :10:08.TRANSLATION: Thank you very much. The Minutes and texts of the

:10:09. > :10:14.sittings adopted are available. Any comments? They've been distributed.

:10:15. > :10:26.No. In that case The Minutes are approved.

:10:27. > :10:30.With regard to the composition of political groups, Renato Soro will

:10:31. > :10:37.officially be a member of the SND group as of tomorrow. I have

:10:38. > :10:43.received a request from the non-attached for a change in the

:10:44. > :10:47.modification of a commission. That modification within in The Minutes

:10:48. > :10:51.of this meetings. If there's nobody to objects to that it will be

:10:52. > :10:55.considered adopted. In relation to the decision by several committees

:10:56. > :11:00.to enter into institutional negotiations pursuit to rule 69 C

:11:01. > :11:03.paragraph one announce the opening of the sitting 26th April 2017 I

:11:04. > :11:07.have received no request in Parliament. The committees were able

:11:08. > :11:14.to start negotiations after the expiry of the deadline laid down in

:11:15. > :11:20.rule 69 C paragraph two. Various committees have decided to enter

:11:21. > :11:24.into institutional negotiations pursuant to rule 69 C. The reports

:11:25. > :11:29.which constitution the mandates for those negotiations are available on

:11:30. > :11:42.the web page. And their titles will be published in the minutes of the

:11:43. > :11:46.sitting. Pursuant to rule 69 C paragraph two members or political

:11:47. > :11:51.groups reaching a medium threshold may request in writing by tomorrow

:11:52. > :11:55.Tuesday 26th May at midnight that decision to enter into negotiations

:11:56. > :12:00.be put to the vote. If no request for a vote in Parliament on the

:12:01. > :12:04.decision toner into negotiations is made within the aforementioned

:12:05. > :12:11.deadline the committees may start the negotiations. I would like to

:12:12. > :12:15.inform you that on Wednesday, together with the president of the

:12:16. > :12:21.Council, I shall sign 12 acts adopted under the ordinary

:12:22. > :12:25.legislationive procedure in accordance with rule 78. The titles

:12:26. > :12:37.of the acts will be published in The Minutes of this sitting. We now come

:12:38. > :12:42.to the order of business, the final draft agenda as adopted by the

:12:43. > :12:50.conference of presidents on May 11, pursuant to rule 149 has been

:12:51. > :12:56.distributed. I have received no request for changes to the final

:12:57. > :13:07.agenda. So the agenda is deemed adopted. So the first item on the

:13:08. > :13:11.agenda is a report, the annual report 2015 on the protection of the

:13:12. > :13:25.EU's financial interests, fight against fraud.

:13:26. > :13:29.TRANSLATION: Thank you, president. Financial fraud and all ports of

:13:30. > :13:36.illegal activities that is detrimental to the European budget

:13:37. > :13:42.must be efficiently eliminated. That is only possible if we have the

:13:43. > :13:50.proper tool kit and the choice of tools at hand is only possible if

:13:51. > :13:56.you know what's actually happening. The EU budget. We started the debate

:13:57. > :14:04.for the reports. Please those who would like to leave should do so in

:14:05. > :14:13.silence. OK.

:14:14. > :14:17.TRANSLATION: My request is that you restart the clock, president, please

:14:18. > :14:29.reset the clock, president, because I have been unable to say anything.

:14:30. > :14:35.TRANSLATION: You can go from the beginning please, take it from the

:14:36. > :14:40.top. TRANSLATION: Financial fraud and all

:14:41. > :14:45.kinds of illegal activities that is detrimental to the yew budget should

:14:46. > :14:50.be efficiently eliminated, that's only possible if you use the proper

:14:51. > :14:57.tools. And the selection of tools at hand is possible if you know what

:14:58. > :15:02.actually happening. The EU budget is aimed at improving circumstances in

:15:03. > :15:04.all areas of life. And any damage to the EU budget are detrimental to

:15:05. > :15:18.achieving that objective. According to the report for 2015, on

:15:19. > :15:24.the protection of EU financial interests, the volume of fraud

:15:25. > :15:32.amounts to 640 million euros per aNam. One can assume that the actual

:15:33. > :15:42.volume of fraud is even higher. Because, not all cases are detected

:15:43. > :15:46.or reported. We must efficiently defend our taxpayers' money. But

:15:47. > :15:50.there are different hindrances on that road. Among those is

:15:51. > :15:55.insufficient co-operation at different levels and another problem

:15:56. > :16:02.is such that no member states implement regulations on time. We

:16:03. > :16:06.are lacking a common system of collecting comparable data from

:16:07. > :16:10.member states. The report we are talking about today points to a

:16:11. > :16:21.number of issues. Let me point out those that are most relevant. Such

:16:22. > :16:25.as, income lost because of gap in regulations on VAT and

:16:26. > :16:31.intracommunity fraud on VAT. Also only two member states have been

:16:32. > :16:38.gathering and providing information on losses incurred in income,

:16:39. > :16:45.because of transborder VAT fraud. It is worrying that the number of cases

:16:46. > :16:48.has been on the increase in three farming funds for example there has

:16:49. > :16:54.been an increase over the last five years. Also there is a sharp

:16:55. > :17:04.increase in the number of irregularities in fisheries. What is

:17:05. > :17:13.also worrying is high irregularities in cohesion funds. If you look at

:17:14. > :17:19.the analysis of member states and of the commission, you could consued we

:17:20. > :17:24.should put a stop to these worrying tendencies. Also investigation is

:17:25. > :17:29.needed on a large number of problems with respect to research and

:17:30. > :17:36.development and innovation in entrepreneurship. Among the problems

:17:37. > :17:42.found, the most important are lack of common rules for reporting for

:17:43. > :17:50.all member states. It is the reason why we can't see the picture

:17:51. > :17:55.properly and another problem is that we are a lacking information

:17:56. > :18:02.interchange system for relevant institutions to fight transnational

:18:03. > :18:07.crime. We also should supervise any exemptions from procedures while

:18:08. > :18:18.using funds to assist people who come to Europe. Of course, export

:18:19. > :18:24.controls are use chl, because we can discover many new Ig regularities.

:18:25. > :18:27.One should point out that prevention is important. Prevention is easier

:18:28. > :18:33.than recovering the money after wards. We should welcome the fact

:18:34. > :18:46.that directive has come into force where is it now a crime to put into

:18:47. > :18:51.circulation counter fit money. One should point out the role of whistle

:18:52. > :18:56.blowers and protection of whistle blowers. We should point out that

:18:57. > :19:04.relevant regulations have been put in put in EU institutions. It is

:19:05. > :19:11.important to protect investigative journalists. The report includes a

:19:12. > :19:17.lot of information on o' its reports so far. The time of court actions

:19:18. > :19:26.that are being conducted. Thank you for your attention. And I wait to

:19:27. > :19:30.hear your replies. Thank you. Thank you, I would now like to ask the

:19:31. > :19:40.commissioner to take the floor, please. Mr President, members, I'm

:19:41. > :19:44.grateful for this opportunity to participate in this debate on the

:19:45. > :19:50.Parliament's yearly resolution on the protection of the EU's finance

:19:51. > :19:53.ideal interests. The fight against fraud is of utmost importance for

:19:54. > :19:58.the commission, as it is for the Parliament. Protection of the

:19:59. > :20:04.European budget is all the more important at a time when the trust

:20:05. > :20:09.of citizens in the European project and in its capability to bring

:20:10. > :20:14.security and prosperity is at risk. I would like to take this

:20:15. > :20:21.opportunity to thank the members of the committee on budgetary control

:20:22. > :20:26.and in particular the reporter for the excellent work on this motion

:20:27. > :20:36.for a resolution. The result is a comprehensive and we structured

:20:37. > :20:40.report. It is thanks to the political pressure exercised by the

:20:41. > :20:45.European Parliament that several issues highlighted in the commission

:20:46. > :20:51.reports have been addressed and progress has been made at European

:20:52. > :20:55.and at member states level. Over the last five years, together, we have

:20:56. > :21:01.significantly reinforced the framework for the protection of the

:21:02. > :21:08.union's financial interest. Let me recall the most important measures.

:21:09. > :21:14.We have adopted several important acts, modernising the legal

:21:15. > :21:24.framework for the protection of the financial interests of the EU like

:21:25. > :21:29.the public procurement directives and the four delegated and for

:21:30. > :21:37.implementing acts on irregularity reporting. The legal framework for

:21:38. > :21:43.the programming period 14-20 for the first time refers explicitly to the

:21:44. > :21:50.obligation from member states to put in place proportionate and effective

:21:51. > :21:56.antifraud measures. On the revenue side, the revised regulation on

:21:57. > :22:01.assistance in the customs area and into force creating new databases to

:22:02. > :22:07.fight better customs fraud. The last and not the least of these legal

:22:08. > :22:11.achievements is the the directive on the protection of the union's

:22:12. > :22:19.financial interests by means of criminal law for which a political

:22:20. > :22:25.agreement was finally reached, also thanks to persistence of the

:22:26. > :22:32.Parliament. But there are also important ongoing legal initiatives.

:22:33. > :22:37.The negotiations of the European public prosecutors office have moved

:22:38. > :22:43.forward very fast and we have seen 17 member states willing to

:22:44. > :22:47.establish the EPPO and enhanced co-operation and a few more making

:22:48. > :22:53.preparations to join it. Like the Parliament, the commission supports

:22:54. > :22:59.establishing a strong and efficient EPPO with as many member stapts as

:23:00. > :23:06.possible and with the necessary means to effectively fight crimes.

:23:07. > :23:11.We are convinced that the EPPO has significant potential to improve the

:23:12. > :23:16.current situation as regards the low level of prosecutions for crimes

:23:17. > :23:23.affecting the union's financial interests. Olaf will continue to

:23:24. > :23:28.play a key role as regard none fraudulent and fraudulent

:23:29. > :23:39.irregularities. It will complement and support the work of the EPPO.

:23:40. > :23:44.Beyond the protection of financial interests it will continue

:23:45. > :23:47.investigations effects by members of institution and staff likely to lead

:23:48. > :23:57.to disciplinary or criminal proshe'dings. The commission is

:23:58. > :24:04.determined to maintain a strong Olaf to play a crucial role to make sure

:24:05. > :24:11.an adequate protection of the budget. Members of Parliament over

:24:12. > :24:15.the five last years, we have also made progress on concrete actions

:24:16. > :24:22.and measures. I will mention three examples for which the Parliament's

:24:23. > :24:28.support reiterated in the report is once more important and particularly

:24:29. > :24:34.welcome. The first is the embedding of antifraud measures in national

:24:35. > :24:41.antifraud strategies. The second is to extend the use of IT tools by all

:24:42. > :24:46.member states to strengthen the fight against fraud. And the third

:24:47. > :24:52.is the accomplishment of harmonised and qualityive reporting of the

:24:53. > :25:00.detected Ig regularities and frauds -- Ig regularities and frauds. The

:25:01. > :25:04.commission acknowledges that data is not fully comparable and takes notes

:25:05. > :25:09.of the requests of the Parliament to improve the situation. New

:25:10. > :25:14.guidelines are being prepared in co-operation with national experts

:25:15. > :25:20.to address the most important issues to reduce the disparities and

:25:21. > :25:27.standardise the process. The document is expected to be finalised

:25:28. > :25:31.this year. It is by analysing such data that we can understand whether

:25:32. > :25:42.the measures we have adopted really make a difference. However, still

:25:43. > :25:48.is, there is still much to do. The commission will keep on fulfilling

:25:49. > :25:53.its role of supporting and assisting member state when needed and of

:25:54. > :25:59.facilitating the exchange of best practices and know how. President,

:26:00. > :26:03.members of Parliament, I would like to close my intervention, stressing

:26:04. > :26:09.once more the importance of the Parliament's resolution. It is by

:26:10. > :26:13.acting together to wards the same target that we have achieved all

:26:14. > :26:19.these improvements. But we are aware that we cannot rest on our laurels.

:26:20. > :26:24.We can count on you to keep -- we count on you to keep encouraging and

:26:25. > :26:30.also cite criticising when necessary the commission and the member states

:26:31. > :26:35.in their fulfilment of treaty obligation to protect the union's

:26:36. > :26:42.financial interests from irregularities and from fraud. I

:26:43. > :26:48.thank you for your attention. TRANSLATION: Thank you very much

:26:49. > :26:55.indeed. I would now like to ask somebody else to take the floor. You

:26:56. > :27:04.have three minutes. TRANSLATION: Thank you very much. I would like to

:27:05. > :27:10.thank the commissioner for her words and also to thank the reporter for

:27:11. > :27:19.this excellent piece of work. In the report on the protection of the EU's

:27:20. > :27:24.financial interests, it shois again that there has been an increase in

:27:25. > :27:34.fraudulent Ig regularities. That will have a negative impact on the

:27:35. > :27:38.EU's budget. The directive is an extremely important tool, as the

:27:39. > :27:43.prosecutor's office n terms of fighting fraud. That goes against

:27:44. > :27:47.the interest of the EU's financial interests. And also to fight

:27:48. > :27:54.terrorism and organised crime, because a lot of times these kinds

:27:55. > :27:59.of illegal activity are funding exactly that crime. So these things

:28:00. > :28:03.are interlinked. We need to ensure that the national control

:28:04. > :28:08.authorities is enhanced and there needs to be better co-operation and

:28:09. > :28:15.good co-operation with Olaf as well, because today, a third of the alerts

:28:16. > :28:22.have not actually been followed up. By the national authorities. And

:28:23. > :28:30.also co-ordination in various sectors needs to be stepped up.

:28:31. > :28:34.There is a lack of mutual assistance sometimes, because this could

:28:35. > :28:39.improve exchange of information when it xoms to structural -- comes to

:28:40. > :28:44.structural funds. I have flagged up the need to do this. But in fact two

:28:45. > :28:51.years later my suggestions have not been followed up. I think today more

:28:52. > :28:59.than ever they are necessary. And Olaf has reiterated and corroborated

:29:00. > :29:05.this view. Another point is the #1r5ib89 of having -- availability

:29:06. > :29:12.of having common actions that. That is important. The EU has experience

:29:13. > :29:19.when it comes to judicial co-operation in penal matters. I

:29:20. > :29:24.think we could copy that kind of co-operation and transfer it to this

:29:25. > :29:30.area as well, because that will lead to a great deal of value added. Also

:29:31. > :29:38.the reinforced co-operation procedures can be looked at. We need

:29:39. > :29:42.co-ordinated action between the different authorities and

:29:43. > :29:47.investigative bodies. So we have got to fight cross border fraud as well.

:29:48. > :29:52.That is important. And what about whistle blowers? They're crucial in

:29:53. > :29:57.this. And so we need to ensure that there is a European and national

:29:58. > :30:06.legal framework to protect these people. I think the commission

:30:07. > :30:09.should... Ensure that there is a stepping up of legislative

:30:10. > :30:15.initiatives on that front. We need this. We have got to protect the

:30:16. > :30:29.international, the EU's interests. Thank you. TRANSLATION: Thank you.

:30:30. > :30:36.The reporter raises many programmes, questions, we are dealing with how

:30:37. > :30:45.good the control and notification systems for fraud are. If you look

:30:46. > :30:47.at the report, it is shocking. The number of regulations has doubled.

:30:48. > :31:00.80% more. The number of fraud cases has gone

:31:01. > :31:03.down by 26%. I don't believe that. It's a question of where we're

:31:04. > :31:08.looking. Commissioner, you said the commission seems this is strange and

:31:09. > :31:14.is concerned because of the low number of notifications. How can we

:31:15. > :31:20.get over the conflict of interest of the member states, if fraud is still

:31:21. > :31:27.defined by member states, they have to pay back the money. The figures

:31:28. > :31:34.that we have that leaves me no other conclusion than we're closing our

:31:35. > :31:38.eyes. Different interpretations of notification practice leads to

:31:39. > :31:41.different interpretations of what is fraud and irregularities. The

:31:42. > :31:46.commission must be much further ahead and they must be deerling with

:31:47. > :31:49.the harm onnisation of notification systems more urgently. I'm struck

:31:50. > :31:53.that every year we look at figures and nobody's interested in what

:31:54. > :31:58.happens to these figures. This year it will be different and we'll make

:31:59. > :32:02.sure there's follow-up. How efficient is OLEF? If you look at

:32:03. > :32:09.the situations, the cases with recommendations haven't changed over

:32:10. > :32:14.many years as long as the supervisionory authority can deal

:32:15. > :32:19.with the efficienciy nothing will come of it. There's a lot of work to

:32:20. > :32:26.be done. It would be good if the commission were to do something. I'm

:32:27. > :32:31.concerned about something else. 75% of all fraud cases are revealed by

:32:32. > :32:38.administrative controls. That's not a success. 25% not by administrative

:32:39. > :32:42.controls, but chance. So here again, here too action is urge lently

:32:43. > :32:49.needed thank you. TRANSLATION: Thank you very much.

:32:50. > :32:58.TRANSLATION: Thank you very much, president. As regards the report, I

:32:59. > :33:08.think it's a very interesting report but I have to say that we believe

:33:09. > :33:13.that part of the solution has to come from a European tax body and

:33:14. > :33:17.when we have enhanced cooperation between a certain number of member

:33:18. > :33:21.states in place, then we hope that quickly we'll be able to create a

:33:22. > :33:26.legal framework and provide resources and means for there could

:33:27. > :33:29.be a proper European public prosecutor in place, so that we can

:33:30. > :33:37.properly fight against this problem with all of the guarantees and

:33:38. > :33:45.resources in place. Then we also have to recall that the current

:33:46. > :33:49.situation means that we're dealing with the multiannual budgetary

:33:50. > :33:54.framework, which means there are cycles for all of the funds and so

:33:55. > :34:03.on. We have to bear in mind that the crisis brought a lot of these

:34:04. > :34:14.programmes to a halt. As a result, as was said, in many member states,

:34:15. > :34:18.the reporting of irregularities, errors or fraud has been quite

:34:19. > :34:25.chaotic as a result of all of this. I think we have to make an effort to

:34:26. > :34:31.make sure that the time tables of all the different member states are

:34:32. > :34:36.properly harm Nilesed so you can -- harmonised so you can compare then.

:34:37. > :34:40.Then you have a situation whereby we have a contradictory application of

:34:41. > :34:48.the name and shame principle, because whilst the figures seem very

:34:49. > :34:55.high and this has been commented on, you have to then look to the member

:34:56. > :34:58.states, where they came from, but then also, we're criticising certain

:34:59. > :35:04.member states because of the low rate of the figures, so I think

:35:05. > :35:09.somewhere we have to draw the line and say you know, what these figures

:35:10. > :35:16.mean, what harmonisation will give us and what we can do to improve

:35:17. > :35:20.things. And also, think about how we can move away from these disasters,

:35:21. > :35:28.even though as you said, you know, progress has been made. It has to be

:35:29. > :35:32.made clearer. Now we are talking about this 80% figure for the

:35:33. > :35:42.irregularities for the shared EU budget. But we also need other

:35:43. > :35:46.assessments of the budget whether increasing funds, earmarked, I'm

:35:47. > :35:52.thinking here of the horizon 2020 programme and the FC programme.

:35:53. > :35:57.There too there are worrying results. Recently, for example,

:35:58. > :36:03.we've seen a lot of talk about the programme in Spain in the context of

:36:04. > :36:05.the FC programme. Thank you very much, one-and-a-half minutes,

:36:06. > :36:16.please. TRANSLATION: Thank you very much.

:36:17. > :36:26.Fight against fraud of the European Union's budget that needs to be, of

:36:27. > :36:36.course, stepped up. Illegal activities, I mean, 75% of fraud

:36:37. > :36:44.affects trade in goods, for example, tobacco, electronic goods, steel,

:36:45. > :36:52.iron, and particularly products from the United Arab Emirates and the

:36:53. > :36:55.Ukraine as well. Falsification of products, counterfeiting products

:36:56. > :37:04.come a great deal from China. Actually Turkey as wasle. -- as

:37:05. > :37:09.well. We feed to ensure that illicit trade in these products is fought as

:37:10. > :37:14.much as illicit trait in tobacco products. There are activities that

:37:15. > :37:16.actually follow on and a knock off on effect further down-the-line.

:37:17. > :37:29.It's very important to tackle these things at source. What about all the

:37:30. > :37:34.funds used for immigration matters? Some of these funds go missing. They

:37:35. > :37:42.don't actually reach the refugees that need them. There are problems

:37:43. > :37:48.in the Aegean areas who can't receive any more migrants.

:37:49. > :37:55.TRANSLATION: Two minutes. Thank you Mr Chair, dear colleagues, first of

:37:56. > :37:57.all I would like to congratulate you for the comprehensive report and the

:37:58. > :38:05.commissioner for her statement. We are struggling overcome the effect

:38:06. > :38:11.of the recent financial and economy crisis in of the associates of the

:38:12. > :38:14.degree. This increasingly, increases dramatically the role of protection

:38:15. > :38:20.of union's financial interests one of the most relevant to us to

:38:21. > :38:24.restore its attractiveness. In the relevant annual report 2015 there

:38:25. > :38:28.are aspects that are utmost importance for the main goal of the

:38:29. > :38:32.protection of the EU financial interests. Firstly, the total number

:38:33. > :38:37.of irregularities detected both by the commission and member states is

:38:38. > :38:41.increasing for a second consecutive year. There could be difference

:38:42. > :38:44.reasons for this fact, including better control, increased level of

:38:45. > :38:48.spending or simply a rise of fraudulent activities. We need a

:38:49. > :38:53.better preventive work of the institutions. Secondly, the

:38:54. > :38:57.antifraud measures undertaken by the EU institutions and member states

:38:58. > :39:05.should tackle the expenditure sides of the budget. The final goal is to

:39:06. > :39:08.secure better revenuer mitting implementation of policies and that

:39:09. > :39:12.increases the credibility of the institutions. Thirdly, from

:39:13. > :39:16.managerial point of view, we need a full implementation of budget

:39:17. > :39:19.focussed results strategy in. The process of designing and

:39:20. > :39:25.implementing management and control system should be pursued cost

:39:26. > :39:30.effectiveness. This means that the control strategies should target

:39:31. > :39:37.predominantly the areas with high risk and error rates. Does the

:39:38. > :39:41.control not impose a burden on beneficiaries. I would like to

:39:42. > :39:45.underline again the importance of efforts of European Commission and

:39:46. > :39:55.member states in the protection of EU's financial interest. All of the

:39:56. > :39:58.fraudulent cases damages the reputation of the union. Adequate

:39:59. > :40:03.action taken by the commission services to protect the EU budget

:40:04. > :40:08.are indispensable in achieving major results against fraud. Thank you.

:40:09. > :40:13.TRANSLATION: Two-and-a-half minutes please. Thank you, chair. Dear

:40:14. > :40:20.colleagues, first of all, I would like to say thank you. We had really

:40:21. > :40:25.an excellent cooperation during the whole discussion period. I think

:40:26. > :40:28.that finally the outcome of this discussion is really an excellent

:40:29. > :40:35.report which I commented to the Parliament to support. It's also

:40:36. > :40:39.important that in the committee there was a consensus on the report

:40:40. > :40:42.and it's a good sign that the different political groups coming

:40:43. > :40:46.with different political backgrounds could agree on the most important

:40:47. > :40:49.issues regarding the protection of the financial interests of the

:40:50. > :40:54.European Union. There are several points in the report and I would

:40:55. > :40:56.like to point out only four important issues from my

:40:57. > :41:01.perspective. First and it was already mentioned, the question of

:41:02. > :41:05.the EPP, the European public prosecutors office. I agree it's an

:41:06. > :41:11.important progress and development that finally we could agree and

:41:12. > :41:15.enhance cooperation. It could start its work within two or three years.

:41:16. > :41:18.On the other hand, we have to keep in mind that this enhanced

:41:19. > :41:23.cooperation, at the moment, consists of 17 member states and some of

:41:24. > :41:27.those member states who are the most critical from the point of view of

:41:28. > :41:33.the expanding of the EU funds are not part of the EPPO and this raises

:41:34. > :41:37.the issue - how can we put pressure on those member states, where we can

:41:38. > :41:42.experience a high level of corruption. If they are not part of

:41:43. > :41:47.the EPPO. And from this perspective I believe that the strengthening of

:41:48. > :41:52.competencies is something we have to do to have the rights and the

:41:53. > :41:56.competences to better control the expanding of the EU funds in the

:41:57. > :42:02.member states. The second issue is the anticorruption report of the

:42:03. > :42:10.European Union. This was published three years ago and it was promised

:42:11. > :42:13.in every two years we will see anticorruption report. Now the

:42:14. > :42:18.commission Sheffield this report. I think this is exactly the wrong

:42:19. > :42:25.message we can certained to the member states and those who are in

:42:26. > :42:31.the corruption business, if the European Commission is not doing its

:42:32. > :42:36.best to mop up corruption in the European Union. Third issue is the

:42:37. > :42:40.whistle-blower protection. It was already mentioned that

:42:41. > :42:44.whistle-blowers can contribute a lot to protect the financial interests

:42:45. > :42:49.of the European Union and we have to help them and to protect them on the

:42:50. > :42:54.European level, not only the member state level to do so. This is my

:42:55. > :42:59.last word, if the investigative journalism in parallel with

:43:00. > :43:05.whistle-blowers can do a lot. Thank you to support this idea. I think we

:43:06. > :43:10.need to support and protect investigative journalism in the EU.

:43:11. > :43:16.TRANSLATION: Thank you, president. I too would like to thank the

:43:17. > :43:23.representative for this report. As far as our point of view is

:43:24. > :43:28.concerned, we want transparency when it comes to, when comes to... Public

:43:29. > :43:34.tenders. That's extremely important, when it comes to public procurement.

:43:35. > :43:41.And also cross-border fraud. We can see how easy it is to get round

:43:42. > :43:47.controls, when they use certain measures, which are easy to

:43:48. > :43:52.implement. So this is all interlinked and also, the

:43:53. > :44:01.legislation we have on organised crime. Italy plays a very important

:44:02. > :44:09.role here. It's very easy to get hold of the data that you need. It's

:44:10. > :44:15.important to see that there is illicit trade in cigarettes from

:44:16. > :44:24.areas where the rules are more stringent and also where the ones

:44:25. > :44:27.that aren't so stringent. TRANSLATION: Thank you president.

:44:28. > :44:32.Madam commissioner, the report about the protection of the EU's financial

:44:33. > :44:39.interests raises very interesting questions and challenges when it

:44:40. > :44:44.comes to tax fraud. It was said already, tax fraud and fighting

:44:45. > :44:51.fraud can only be done if the problem is clearly identified and

:44:52. > :44:56.the problem is tackled efficiently. The route of travel is to make sure

:44:57. > :45:01.that we can re-establish the confidence of citizens. A big

:45:02. > :45:06.problem in tax fraud is the problem of VAT fraud. It's been pointed out.

:45:07. > :45:19.VAT is the biggest source of income of the member states.

:45:20. > :45:33.50 billion euros has to do with carousel fraud. And also organised

:45:34. > :45:42.crime. A the cap means VAT avoidance strategies at the tax avoidance are

:45:43. > :45:47.something we know from other areas. Aggressive tax planning and tax

:45:48. > :45:54.avoidance strategies cause 60 billion euros of losses in budgets.

:45:55. > :45:58.There are two member states and the EU which have statistics for all of

:45:59. > :46:08.income because of cross-border VAT fraud. We have the special report

:46:09. > :46:17.which shows the EU system is not as efficient and the lack of data leads

:46:18. > :46:22.to losses for the EU. Member states have instruments to fight VAT fraud

:46:23. > :46:32.available to them. The lack of account controls between tax and

:46:33. > :46:37.customs, exchange of data between member states and lack of

:46:38. > :46:43.cooperation between prosecution and law enforcement authorities and the

:46:44. > :46:52.notifications of irregularities have gone up by one third from 2014 and

:46:53. > :46:56.15. The notifications of fraud cases have gone down by 11% over the same

:46:57. > :47:02.period and I agree with the previous speaker that we have to make added

:47:03. > :47:07.efforts, and we should also be concerned that 52% of these

:47:08. > :47:10.fraudulent cases are in the agricultural area and we need to pay

:47:11. > :47:19.attention to that. We need more transparency, more cooperation is so

:47:20. > :47:28.that the EU can get its funds back. One minute and a half, please. Thank

:47:29. > :47:32.you very much indeed, President. Fighting against fraud is vital if

:47:33. > :47:39.we want to defend the interests of the European Union said this is

:47:40. > :47:49.incumbent upon all member states. One of the areas we need to fight

:47:50. > :47:55.against fraud concerns the smuggling of tobacco -based products. This is

:47:56. > :48:04.a very important smuggling activity globally, countless cigarette

:48:05. > :48:07.smuggling operations are ongoing, and this accounts for a considerable

:48:08. > :48:16.loss of revenue for the member states. There is also a health risk

:48:17. > :48:23.concerning our consumers. It seems we're not making quick pros Gress

:48:24. > :48:36.regarding this. In June 2016, a law was adopted to implement a technical

:48:37. > :48:42.instrument which would allow for better monitoring of tobacco

:48:43. > :48:53.smuggling, but this was not properly followed up, and now in our country,

:48:54. > :49:02.we are forcing the vendors to refuse bank card payments, and the banks

:49:03. > :49:08.are actually making 1% commission on this. This means that people are

:49:09. > :49:11.being forced into buying illicit products, counterfeit cigarettes,

:49:12. > :49:19.and there is a risk for public health and we have to do something.

:49:20. > :49:27.Thank you, President. Ladies and gentlemen, the European Union today

:49:28. > :49:32.is facing a huge amount of mistrust on the side of our European

:49:33. > :49:40.citizens, and that is why it is so important today that we really care

:49:41. > :49:45.about transparency and our voters and the European citizens and to

:49:46. > :49:50.renew trust, not only in the European institutions but also an

:49:51. > :49:57.member states of the European Union. In many member states, the European

:49:58. > :50:04.Union has lost this trust. Commissioner, at the beginning, we

:50:05. > :50:08.were applauding courage to change something of the status quo but,

:50:09. > :50:15.based on the report, the European Commission has not done or has not

:50:16. > :50:20.changed that much in the past few months or the past few years. That

:50:21. > :50:24.is why we have to concentrate on these real and very necessary

:50:25. > :50:29.changes because this report clearly identifies what is wrong and what is

:50:30. > :50:37.not functioning well in the European Union. It is our task as politicians

:50:38. > :50:42.to renew trust. To protect the financial interests of the European

:50:43. > :50:45.Union should be our utmost priority. The European citizens should not

:50:46. > :50:53.consider benefits of the European Union as an opportunity to fraud.

:50:54. > :50:57.Some high representatives of the member states are reporting that and

:50:58. > :51:07.the Czech Republic is also one of them. Unfortunately, based on that,

:51:08. > :51:10.that is the cause of this mistrust, and this is basically costing us a

:51:11. > :51:20.hundred of thousands of millions per year. That is why I am disappointed

:51:21. > :51:24.that the steps of the European Commission and I hope, based on our

:51:25. > :51:39.arguments, you will change your steps. Two minutes. Thank you,

:51:40. > :51:48.President. The report we talking about now and the discussion we are

:51:49. > :51:52.having here reflects the fact that we have criminals in the European

:51:53. > :51:55.Union on the one hand and on the other hand authorities and

:51:56. > :52:02.governments at member state level that are fighting against those

:52:03. > :52:09.fraudsters. Hopefully, we will find a solution to hold sway against

:52:10. > :52:13.those fraudsters. But what I'm missing here is, what happens of the

:52:14. > :52:26.government of the member state or authority of the member state is

:52:27. > :52:33.hampered here? If a system is being built up the taxes that ultimately

:52:34. > :52:38.leads to a situation whereby this government actually is involved in

:52:39. > :52:51.criminal activities itself, there is a lot of legislation that implicates

:52:52. > :52:58.the family and the circle of friends of Mr Orban, and nobody gets access

:52:59. > :53:11.to those funds often, apart from him. There are governments that are

:53:12. > :53:17.against the EP PO because they will probably... They want to solve legal

:53:18. > :53:21.problems from this philosophical point of view, but it is very

:53:22. > :53:27.important to actually achieve that. On the other hand, some states will

:53:28. > :53:32.be against that because there will be negatively impacted on. The other

:53:33. > :53:36.once themselves involved in criminal activities. So we need to sometimes

:53:37. > :53:44.unravel all these different relationships. Thank you. One

:53:45. > :53:52.minute. Thank you very much, President. In this report, there are

:53:53. > :53:56.many shocking figures and facts, but that should not be cause for us to

:53:57. > :54:01.say we need more and stricter controls but should reflect, how can

:54:02. > :54:07.come about? On very good approach to avoid errors and to prevent fraud is

:54:08. > :54:16.to consider what the EU is responsible for. Should it be

:54:17. > :54:21.responsible for everything? Do the rules make sense? Rules we do not

:54:22. > :54:28.need cannot be exceeded so we shall have to think, cannot we have more

:54:29. > :54:37.subsidiarity is more rules would be unnecessary? It makes no sense, we

:54:38. > :54:42.think, in the EC group, I do not think that would lead to more

:54:43. > :54:48.transparency. It also would not mean that more procedures would be

:54:49. > :54:54.opened. What we would see is a prosecutor would have great problems

:54:55. > :55:03.of limitations. Thank you very much indeed. One and a half minutes,

:55:04. > :55:07.please. Thank you very much indeed, President. I would like to thank the

:55:08. > :55:12.raptor for the work done on this I would like to focus my intervention

:55:13. > :55:18.on three issues. The first issue concerns the need that has been

:55:19. > :55:22.expressed by this Parliament for establishing an anti-corruption code

:55:23. > :55:27.which allows us to create a system of transparent indicators, publish

:55:28. > :55:32.the progress made to eradicate corruption and also presenting an

:55:33. > :55:38.annual report on dealing with this problem at the European level. Far

:55:39. > :55:41.from dealing with this, the report announced the actions to stop

:55:42. > :55:46.publishing comparative data, and this has not been communicated to

:55:47. > :55:52.this House and is a cruel disregard of the European Parliament agreement

:55:53. > :55:57.set out in article 148 on the report of the human rights and the union in

:55:58. > :56:02.September 20 15. The second issue concerns channelling the

:56:03. > :56:07.simplification of cutting red tape. When projects have been completed,

:56:08. > :56:12.such as the European employment portal, the coordinator of the

:56:13. > :56:16.project is asked to repay sums were erroneously pledged to members of

:56:17. > :56:21.the consortium, which for reasons outside the project's control, has

:56:22. > :56:25.gone bust. The commission cannot resolve these problems acting

:56:26. > :56:29.against another user and in this case that is the coordinator.

:56:30. > :56:33.Finally, we have to improve procedures for interchange of data

:56:34. > :56:37.between member states and homogenise the criteria for following up

:56:38. > :56:41.possible infringement and we have to communicate is better because there

:56:42. > :56:43.are too many differences in terms of reporting of corruption between the

:56:44. > :56:46.member states and that is all the more reasons for us to do something

:56:47. > :56:54.very concrete to improve the situation. Thank you very much

:56:55. > :56:59.indeed. There are eye watering levels of fraudulent activity

:57:00. > :57:04.costing member state of the European Union 637 million euros in 2015.

:57:05. > :57:08.When you add irregularities that are not fraudulent, the total amount of

:57:09. > :57:16.money involved goes to over 3 billion euros. That of course is

:57:17. > :57:20.known fraud at irregularities but, by definition, there must be more

:57:21. > :57:24.that is not detected. And that is before even asking the fundamental

:57:25. > :57:31.question as to whether taxpayers got value for money from the cash that

:57:32. > :57:35.was spent. But this report beautifully illustrates the European

:57:36. > :57:41.project as a whole because whenever you have no European error areas, it

:57:42. > :57:45.will result in areas implementing across 28 countries. And the

:57:46. > :57:54.European Union will inevitably have the have more harmonisation as that

:57:55. > :57:59.answer. You get responses like a prosecutor's office because the

:58:00. > :58:03.system will fail to function without it and responses including imposing

:58:04. > :58:09.rules across all 28 member states. This is the very essence. Once power

:58:10. > :58:15.moves from a nation state of the European Union in one area, it

:58:16. > :58:19.follows that powers must continue to flow in that same direction. That is

:58:20. > :58:27.how the European Union is set up. So really, there can only be too honest

:58:28. > :58:31.position Taia. You either support a European superstate with all that

:58:32. > :58:39.entails with the loss of sovereignty and identity, and that view is

:58:40. > :58:44.logically consistent, however much I disagree with it, I respect those

:58:45. > :58:47.who hold that view. The other position is to recognise that the

:58:48. > :58:52.alternative is to leave the European Union and to get off the train

:58:53. > :58:58.before it reassures destination superstate. That is what we in the

:58:59. > :59:02.UK are doing. If only the European Union had remained as a trading

:59:03. > :59:14.organisation rather than a political monolith, I am sure we would not be

:59:15. > :59:22.in this position today. The minutes, please. Thank you for the floor, Mr

:59:23. > :59:26.President. I would like to congratulate her on that report. We

:59:27. > :59:33.live in times when the trust of citizens in the EU and institutions

:59:34. > :59:38.is eroding. It falls on us to restore that confidence. Transparent

:59:39. > :59:45.use of EU funds and effective fighting fraud form an important

:59:46. > :59:50.aspect of our work. In 2014, due to the VAT cut, we lost almost 160

:59:51. > :59:57.billion euros of revenue and 50 billion euros were lost due to VAT

:59:58. > :00:02.fraud within the community. This is a tremendous loss. We could've

:00:03. > :00:07.channelled these funds into fostering economic growth and jobs.

:00:08. > :00:12.Instead of seizing the numerous opportunities for quick action in

:00:13. > :00:17.the fight against fraud, we still see unreliable data being reported

:00:18. > :00:20.by member states. This is the consequence of an efficient

:00:21. > :00:25.cooperation with the European Commission. There are also numerous

:00:26. > :00:31.other gaps in cooperation between member states. They should exchange

:00:32. > :00:35.information better and they should exchange best practice as well. We

:00:36. > :00:39.need a strong and independent EP PO and it needs to have enough power is

:00:40. > :00:44.said that can act quickly and efficiently in order to protect the

:00:45. > :00:51.financial interests of the EU. If it is not given enough responsibilities

:00:52. > :00:54.and powers, if they are not independent and therefore not

:00:55. > :01:00.legitimate, then this will be a great opportunity lost in terms of

:01:01. > :01:03.being able to fight fraud effectively at a supranational

:01:04. > :01:08.level. Only if we act in a coordinated manner at an EU level

:01:09. > :01:15.can we protect the financial interests of the EU.

:01:16. > :01:25.TRANSLATION: President, Madam commissioner, dear colleagues, if we

:01:26. > :01:30.look at the data today then the number of financial irregularities

:01:31. > :01:33.has increased to an alarming degree, about 30% increase between 2015 and

:01:34. > :01:37.2016. We need to look at this carefully and come up with concrete

:01:38. > :01:41.measures. I support this report and I hope after we adopt the report

:01:42. > :01:44.we'll improve cooperation between the commission and the member

:01:45. > :01:48.states. At the same time, we also have to improve cooperation between

:01:49. > :01:54.the relevant bodies at the member state level and we have seen a

:01:55. > :01:59.massive loss of revenues in VAT for the member states. If you look at

:02:00. > :02:02.cross-border transactions, commissioner, that's a real weak

:02:03. > :02:06.point. I think we have to focus our efforts on where the biggest

:02:07. > :02:09.vulnerabilities lie. Here we have to cooperate closely and loyally

:02:10. > :02:14.between the member states to eliminate the kind of carousel fraud

:02:15. > :02:18.that we have to deal with. Customs problems are also very important

:02:19. > :02:23.when it comes to detecting fraud and we haven't done enough to resolve

:02:24. > :02:29.these issues. I think we need to improve the control procedures that

:02:30. > :02:36.exist for those goods which are often subject to counterfeiting.

:02:37. > :02:41.About 75% of these goods, we're talking about tobacco, alcohol and

:02:42. > :02:47.electronic goods, these are subject to counterfeiting, we have to check

:02:48. > :02:52.them more closely. We need to detect any irregularities so we can avoid

:02:53. > :02:54.them in the future. We have to strengthen these measures too. I

:02:55. > :03:01.would like to ask the commission to look into the possibility of using

:03:02. > :03:06.mandatory risk assessment tools that we should impose on the member

:03:07. > :03:10.states. We also have to look at efficiency here. It's not just about

:03:11. > :03:15.the that titical number of checks carried out but the effectiveness

:03:16. > :03:19.and efficienciy of these checks. Here I have a proposal. We should

:03:20. > :03:23.increase the sanctions at play here, because then we can really correct

:03:24. > :03:30.the errors, but use sanctions to help that happen. We also have to

:03:31. > :03:33.make sure that we haven't forgotten about citizens here. This is

:03:34. > :03:44.taxpayers money we're talking about. TRANSLATION: Thank you very much.

:03:45. > :03:50.One minute-and-a-half. TRANSLATION: Thank you president.

:03:51. > :03:53.Commissioner, colleagues, an effective fight against fraught

:03:54. > :04:00.needs to take a two pronged approach. We need to ensure that the

:04:01. > :04:05.legal systems are were ereformed, particularly in the countries that

:04:06. > :04:11.had dictatorship in their past. Their legal system needs to be

:04:12. > :04:17.adapted to modern forms of crime. The legal systems there need to be

:04:18. > :04:22.made more democratic. And we also need to be courageous, tone sure

:04:23. > :04:35.that deep seated reforms at European level are also undertaken. We need

:04:36. > :04:40.to ensure that we have crimes that can be looked at at EU level and

:04:41. > :04:47.courts will be able to look at that at EU level. If there's fraud

:04:48. > :04:51.against the EU's financial interests, it can't be left up to

:04:52. > :04:55.the member states' courts to look at those, 27 different ones. We need an

:04:56. > :05:01.EU court to look at that, an EU prosecution office to look at that.

:05:02. > :05:07.We need to ensure that we fight corruption in an efficient way. We

:05:08. > :05:12.also need political, a political fight against corruption. Because

:05:13. > :05:17.it's detrimental to the European Union's image as a whole, of course.

:05:18. > :05:23.It undermines the faith of the citizens in us. Of course, it's

:05:24. > :05:27.extremely important to use the taxpayers' monies. The leadership of

:05:28. > :05:38.the European Union needs to ensure that investment is done very well.

:05:39. > :05:44.TRANSLATION: Commissioner talking today about fraud with EU resources,

:05:45. > :05:48.we're talking about 22 thousand irregularities and 3 billion euros.

:05:49. > :05:52.Irregularities have increased by about 6,000 cases, more tan a third.

:05:53. > :05:56.The commission says that the number of irregularities has gone up

:05:57. > :06:02.because the EU's budget has also increased. Now the commission, the

:06:03. > :06:07.Parliament, and some member states, including Germany, want to have a

:06:08. > :06:11.European public prosecutors office to fight fraud. Public prosecutor

:06:12. > :06:18.for a state that doesn't exist and we one we don't want. My solution is

:06:19. > :06:22.better and simpler. Less redistribution, less irregularities,

:06:23. > :06:29.less fraud and we should cut the EU's budget and cut it down to what

:06:30. > :06:34.things that can be done by EU. For example, the mutual assistance with

:06:35. > :06:36.national, with natural disasters, no distribution and no subsidies.

:06:37. > :06:46.TRANSLATION: Thank you very much indeed. Now we move onto the catch

:06:47. > :06:51.the eye procedure. And I have two colleagues on my Speaker's list. You

:06:52. > :06:58.have the floor first, please. TRANSLATION: Thank you very much.

:06:59. > :07:03.Protection of the EU's financial interest should be one of the main

:07:04. > :07:09.pillars for the European Union, because that will help to enhance

:07:10. > :07:17.faith of the, of European citizens in us. We need to ensure that there

:07:18. > :07:22.is a reduction in fraud. That 11% decrease, for example, is very

:07:23. > :07:26.important. However, there's also been an increase by 12% so we've got

:07:27. > :07:34.decreases on the one hand, increases on the other hand. It's up to the -

:07:35. > :07:38.we have to ensure that we, ensure that there is a reduction across the

:07:39. > :07:42.board. And of course, national authorities are responsible for 80%

:07:43. > :07:50.of the funds and checking those funds. Here we need to tighten up

:07:51. > :07:58.procedures. We need to ensure that proof is obtained why it is needed

:07:59. > :08:02.to prove or refute fraud, so the measures need to be tightened, legal

:08:03. > :08:07.measures need to be tightened up to make sure they are more efficient.

:08:08. > :08:21.We also need to ensure that cooperation is enhanced.

:08:22. > :08:34.TRANSLATION: President, fighting against corruption that is the duty

:08:35. > :08:44.of states, but Brussels is going further. They're cooperating with

:08:45. > :08:58.international elites at the moment. We have a group which maintains the

:08:59. > :09:09.situation with a lack of law. Macron is in power in France, but he worked

:09:10. > :09:20.in a bank. And a lot of political leaders are in the same boat,

:09:21. > :09:23.including in Greece. But people will say no to Macron.

:09:24. > :09:29.TRANSLATION: Thank you very much indeed. Commissioner, you have the

:09:30. > :09:36.floor. Thank you, Mr President, thank you honourable members. This

:09:37. > :09:42.debate shows once more how the need for an adequate protection of the

:09:43. > :09:45.union's financial interests is. It also indicates that continuous

:09:46. > :09:49.improvements and enhancements are necessary to bring the fight against

:09:50. > :09:54.fraud and irregularities in line with the expectations of the

:09:55. > :09:58.European citizens. Please rest assured that the commission is fully

:09:59. > :10:03.committed to continue to strengthen the protection of the European

:10:04. > :10:09.Union's financial interests and to reinforce our efforts in this area.

:10:10. > :10:12.To ensure the European budget is delivering its optimal impact and

:10:13. > :10:19.value for money, the commission and the member states have the duty to

:10:20. > :10:26.make every effort to prevent that public money is defrauded. On your

:10:27. > :10:29.question or on your consultation also that the total number of

:10:30. > :10:34.irregularities detected by the commission and the member states is

:10:35. > :10:39.rising again and what reason is for this, I can only tell you that there

:10:40. > :10:43.is no straight answer to this question. Identifying the main

:10:44. > :10:48.reasons behind increases and decreases in the number of

:10:49. > :10:55.irregularities is always, as you know, a complex exercise. Several

:10:56. > :11:00.factors may contribute to this in relation to 2015, increased spending

:11:01. > :11:05.changes in control strategies, and the delayed reporting have played a

:11:06. > :11:12.role. I may kindly refer you to certain paragraphs in the report

:11:13. > :11:16.about this. On fraudulent irregularities, there we see that

:11:17. > :11:21.the number of fraudulent irregularities have been decreasing.

:11:22. > :11:27.I want to tell you here that interpreting the true meaning of the

:11:28. > :11:32.fluctuations in the number of this kind of irregularities reported and

:11:33. > :11:39.in their related financial value, it is always difficult and could easily

:11:40. > :11:45.be misleading. As observers, we tend to associate a positive judgment to

:11:46. > :11:47.decreases and a negative one to increases of detected fraudulent

:11:48. > :11:52.activities. However we should never forget that we are looking at the

:11:53. > :11:58.member states' capacity to prevent and detect fraud. It is the

:11:59. > :12:04.detection efficiency of member states that counts. Of course, as

:12:05. > :12:09.you told many of you told money lost due to fraud is money we could use

:12:10. > :12:18.better. We could invest it in useful proinjects. -- projects. We should

:12:19. > :12:23.know that reporting of irregularities does not always mean

:12:24. > :12:28.that the budget lost the amounts member states and the commission

:12:29. > :12:33.recover. Often the amounts, let's not forget about that. Of course, we

:12:34. > :12:38.recognise that there is a conflict of interest, but let me tell you

:12:39. > :12:43.that we also address this conflict of interest among others in the

:12:44. > :12:48.public procurement directive of 2014, where definition of conflict

:12:49. > :12:53.of interest is introduced and also, I can also tell you that the

:12:54. > :12:59.commission prepared guidelines with member states experts on conflict of

:13:00. > :13:04.interests. And then a member asked me why the commission decided to

:13:05. > :13:11.discontinue the anticorruption report. Well, an effective fight

:13:12. > :13:14.against corruption within the European Union remains essential

:13:15. > :13:18.delivered through the right vehicle. Fighting corruption has become a key

:13:19. > :13:24.element of the European semester process. I want to underline that.

:13:25. > :13:28.The commission will take up anticorruption measures in the

:13:29. > :13:31.context of its main economic policy dialogue between the member states

:13:32. > :13:37.and the European institutions. This is in line with the general approach

:13:38. > :13:43.of this commission to stream line processes and focus on key issues in

:13:44. > :13:47.the relevant forum. There was also a question, Mr President, on the

:13:48. > :13:50.whistle-blowers and about the state of play on initiatives of the

:13:51. > :13:56.commission on protection of whistle-blowers. There I can tell

:13:57. > :13:59.you that the commission is assessing the feasability and scope for

:14:00. > :14:06.European action to strengthen the protection of whistle-blowers. We

:14:07. > :14:11.are carrying out an impact assessment, has launched a public

:14:12. > :14:15.consultation in March and is about to launch a targeted consultation.

:14:16. > :14:21.The commission should decide in July of this year what action to propose

:14:22. > :14:29.before the end of the year, before December. Dear members of

:14:30. > :14:33.Parliament, I can, yes, despite my efforts, I have probably not

:14:34. > :14:38.addressed completely certain specific or certain technical issues

:14:39. > :14:47.in my introduction or in my reply to your questions. But can I tell you

:14:48. > :14:50.that the commissioner will meet representative in the beginning of

:14:51. > :14:55.June in order to continue the discussion on how further improved

:14:56. > :14:58.the protection of the European Union financial interests. Thank you for

:14:59. > :15:02.your attention. And I can tell you that the commission Council and

:15:03. > :15:06.European Parliament's continuous support, thank you.

:15:07. > :15:11.TRANSLATION: Thank you very much indeed. I'd like to ask you to take

:15:12. > :15:25.the floor. Thank you very much, President. I

:15:26. > :15:32.want to thank the commissioner and all the colleagues who participated

:15:33. > :15:37.in this debate. I have to say that, taking into account the complexity

:15:38. > :15:45.of the issue and the fact that it raises a lot of concerns, I am full

:15:46. > :15:57.of hope because, independently from our political differences, this

:15:58. > :16:03.concern for the Budget, for the efficiency in fighting all the

:16:04. > :16:09.negative elements, is something we share, and it always gives us hope

:16:10. > :16:14.that we will be able to fight efficiently everything that is

:16:15. > :16:19.detrimental to the correct functioning. And I agree, when it

:16:20. > :16:37.comes to the importance of the issues here, the accounting systems,

:16:38. > :16:48.the issue of European... European persecution services, as well as

:16:49. > :16:55.cooperation, we will be able to fight fraud and irregularities, and

:16:56. > :17:00.this is crucial for the European institutions and politicians. At the

:17:01. > :17:09.very end, I wanted to thank all the Shadow raconteurs who really made it

:17:10. > :17:18.possible for our work on this report to be fruitful, interesting. Thank

:17:19. > :17:22.you very much indeed. That concludes this item on our agenda and there

:17:23. > :17:34.will be a vote on the site tomorrow. We're now moving on to our next item

:17:35. > :17:39.on the agenda. Namely, a European qualifications framework for

:17:40. > :17:44.lifelong learning. This is an oral question addressed to the

:17:45. > :17:55.commission. So I would like to begin by giving the floor to the author,

:17:56. > :18:06.please. Thank you, chair, and thank you for being here. The European

:18:07. > :18:10.qualifications framework is a European wide qualification

:18:11. > :18:15.framework which joins the qualifications of different EU

:18:16. > :18:21.members together. In a way, it is a translation of different

:18:22. > :18:27.qualifications which make qualifications in different EU

:18:28. > :18:31.countries easier to understand. As such, it is of key importance for a

:18:32. > :18:37.well functioning European integration ability. According to

:18:38. > :18:44.the commission, the upcoming review of the EQ F or make it even easier

:18:45. > :18:50.to compare qualifications across countries, it will help learners,

:18:51. > :18:59.workers and employers to better understand what a job applicant

:19:00. > :19:04.knows and is capable of doing. The revised EQ F is also supposed to

:19:05. > :19:07.facilitate the comparison and understanding of qualifications of

:19:08. > :19:20.the third country nationals. These are important goals. Nonetheless,

:19:21. > :19:26.the Parliament has adopted a question, or questions, which read

:19:27. > :19:30.as follows, qualifications differ across the European Union and that

:19:31. > :19:37.makes it difficult to assess the knowledge and capabilities of

:19:38. > :19:42.workers and learners. In 2008, Parliament and the Council adopted a

:19:43. > :19:46.recommendation on the establishment of a European qualifications

:19:47. > :19:52.framework for lifelong learning with the aim of improving the

:19:53. > :19:57.transparency, compatibility and transferability of qualifications in

:19:58. > :20:03.Europe. The EQ F's objectives have not yet been fully achieved. As part

:20:04. > :20:07.of its new skills agenda therefore the commission is proposing to

:20:08. > :20:14.revise the system so that a new Council recommendation. Question

:20:15. > :20:19.one, how will the proposed recommendation facilitate equal

:20:20. > :20:23.opportunities in the knowledge-based society and a better permeability

:20:24. > :20:28.between the education and training system? How will it help to match

:20:29. > :20:41.the supply and demand of skills in the labour market? Question two, why

:20:42. > :20:45.would they revised EQ F work better? Despite the current framework being

:20:46. > :20:52.only partially implemented and member states' calls to focus on

:20:53. > :20:58.this? Question three, how was the framework contributing to informal

:20:59. > :21:08.and non-formal learning? How is the new relationship between ECT S

:21:09. > :21:12.expected to work? Question for, how will be commission support a

:21:13. > :21:15.consistent implementation of EQ F across member states, its use and

:21:16. > :21:22.involvement by all relevant stakeholders as well as its better

:21:23. > :21:28.visibility? Question five, by using the EQ F as the meta framework, how

:21:29. > :21:32.would the commission ensure that the specific features of national

:21:33. > :21:38.training and education systems can be recognised and understood in the

:21:39. > :21:44.other member states? Question six, the growing migration flows to and

:21:45. > :21:47.from the EU highlight the need for better understanding of

:21:48. > :21:52.qualifications awarded outside the EU and of the recognition in order

:21:53. > :21:59.to help migrants and refugees integrate into EU labour markets.

:22:00. > :22:03.How does the commission intend to support the development and

:22:04. > :22:10.application of mechanisms to enable the comparison and recognition of

:22:11. > :22:15.third country qualifications? In the resolution that will be voted by

:22:16. > :22:20.Parliament on Wednesday, it is also highlighted that relevant

:22:21. > :22:23.stakeholders, such as public employment services, social

:22:24. > :22:30.partners, education and training providers, should be further

:22:31. > :22:34.involved in close corporation in the creation, implementation, promotion

:22:35. > :22:40.and monitoring of the EQ F at an EU and national level in order to

:22:41. > :22:43.ensure its broader support. We have also highlighted the importance of

:22:44. > :22:49.member state commitment and involvement so far only the

:22:50. > :22:55.Netherlands and Sweden have specific procedures put in place within the

:22:56. > :23:01.plans for the inclusion of non-formal qualifications. No member

:23:02. > :23:10.state has specific procedures for informal learning within the

:23:11. > :23:17.National qualifications frames. This is an unnecessary barrier to the

:23:18. > :23:19.labour market. We should always respected national competence and

:23:20. > :23:23.guarantee that the distinctive crates of the education system of

:23:24. > :23:32.member states are safeguarded. But at the same time, many member states

:23:33. > :23:36.are still in the early stages of implementing the National

:23:37. > :23:40.qualification systems. This is too slow if qualifications are the

:23:41. > :23:45.Beacon parable across Europe, we have to see improvement here. If the

:23:46. > :23:50.fully functional EQ F is to be achieved, we need to make sure that

:23:51. > :23:55.employers know how to use the system so that it can truly be the tool

:23:56. > :24:01.that we all want it to be. Improving the EQ F is key in achieving our own

:24:02. > :24:10.goals and our common goal. That is to say that people are in jobs, not

:24:11. > :24:17.jobless, and that people do not end up in desperate situations with high

:24:18. > :24:22.and employment rates. So please, Commissioner, we look forward to

:24:23. > :24:37.hear your answers to all these questions. Thank you. Thank you, Mr

:24:38. > :24:42.President. Honourable members let me start by welcoming your engagement

:24:43. > :24:46.and contribution to working on the new skills agenda for Europe. I know

:24:47. > :24:51.you are currently working on a reboot on the skills agenda, and I

:24:52. > :24:57.look forward to reading this. Your question today on the EQ F comes at

:24:58. > :25:02.the right moment as, in one week's time, the council will adopt the new

:25:03. > :25:07.recommendation. Let me now address the issues raised in your question.

:25:08. > :25:15.Firstly, I want to stress that the EQ F is a success story. In almost

:25:16. > :25:19.ten years since it was established, it has helped make qualifications

:25:20. > :25:26.more transparent and therefore more can parable across Europe. 24 of our

:25:27. > :25:32.member states have National qualification frameworks in place

:25:33. > :25:38.and have completed the referencing process of the EQ F. Others will

:25:39. > :25:46.follow this year. Citizens across Europe are already benefiting from

:25:47. > :25:49.the level on the diplomas and certificates. This makes it easier

:25:50. > :25:59.for the qualifications to be understood in other member states.

:26:00. > :26:09.This is why phase two represents an evolution and not a revolution.

:26:10. > :26:16.Compared to the 2008 text, the key principle remains, this is a

:26:17. > :26:22.transparency tool, not a recognition tool, EQ F levels will feature an

:26:23. > :26:25.individual diplomas and certificates, and member states

:26:26. > :26:30.participating countries and social partners, indeed also social

:26:31. > :26:34.partners, will continue to meet at a European level to agreed the correct

:26:35. > :26:40.referencing of each qualification framework. But the world of

:26:41. > :26:45.qualifications does not stay still. People are increasingly learning in

:26:46. > :26:50.different settings and are rightly demanding that this learning and

:26:51. > :26:56.experience is better recognise. This will happen even more on the future.

:26:57. > :27:05.Qualifications and National qualifications framework at

:27:06. > :27:09.adapting. This is why the new EQ F recommendation proposes a continuous

:27:10. > :27:16.updating of the referencing process. In order to ensure that this keeps

:27:17. > :27:25.pace and the referencing remains valid. A Member of Parliament is

:27:26. > :27:30.highlighted in your question in motion for resolution of the EQ F

:27:31. > :27:37.equal opportunities and permeability should be stringent. This is valid

:27:38. > :27:44.both within systems, for example to make progress from the location of

:27:45. > :27:49.the higher education easier, as well as between different systems and

:27:50. > :27:55.countries. I am sure that Parliament will welcome therefore that our

:27:56. > :28:01.proposed revision puts a greater emphasis on credit systems to

:28:02. > :28:09.support flexible learning countries including setting our principles for

:28:10. > :28:14.credit systems in a dedicated annex. And, of course, linked to this, a

:28:15. > :28:18.goal for the recognition and validation of non-formal and

:28:19. > :28:24.informal learning in line with the dedicated Council recommendation of

:28:25. > :28:29.2012. Member states are invited by the EQ F to incorporate this

:28:30. > :28:34.validation in the National qualification frameworks. Indeed,

:28:35. > :28:39.for the EQ F, what counts are the outcomes of learning and not the

:28:40. > :28:48.duration or the institution where the La Quinta place. Ensuring the

:28:49. > :28:55.consistency of EQ F implementation is a task of the EQ advisory group,

:28:56. > :29:00.this group was created in 2009 and has proven its value in building

:29:01. > :29:05.trust between member states, and its work will continue. We will continue

:29:06. > :29:09.our work together with the advisory group to better communicate about

:29:10. > :29:19.the EQ F and to improve its outreach to citizens and employers. We will

:29:20. > :29:21.also report closely on the ground through peer learning activities,

:29:22. > :29:38.studies. All this should also help to make it

:29:39. > :29:47.more visible. Dear Members of Parliament, you know that the EQ F

:29:48. > :29:54.serves as a translation grid between different training systems. It helps

:29:55. > :30:01.to better understand and compare qualifications that are part of the

:30:02. > :30:06.systems. The EQ F therefore fully respects and protects each national

:30:07. > :30:07.educational training system. The goal is transparency in

:30:08. > :30:23.understanding, not harmonisation. Regarding better understanding of

:30:24. > :30:26.qualifications, it includes a recommendation on exploring such

:30:27. > :30:33.comparisons. We should not have illusions. The reference includes

:30:34. > :30:42.the EQF to have mature qualification systems. They have been done by New

:30:43. > :30:49.Zealand, by Australia and Hong Kong but this is not done in isolation,

:30:50. > :30:57.migrants and refugees need our help now. Other actions of the new skills

:30:58. > :31:01.agenda for Europe focus on practical actions for a better understanding

:31:02. > :31:06.of the skills of third country nationals. Next month I were

:31:07. > :31:14.launched a skills profile tool for this purpose. It will be done on the

:31:15. > :31:20.20th of June and this will coincide with the world refugee Day. The new

:31:21. > :31:27.EQF brings new clarity on international qualifications such as

:31:28. > :31:31.industry qualifications. This will be achieved by expert and peer

:31:32. > :31:37.support to member states for the levelling. Honourable members of

:31:38. > :31:42.Parliament, the EQF has been a successful tool to improve the

:31:43. > :31:48.transparency of qualifications. Across Europe it has stimulated

:31:49. > :31:55.member states to introduce national qualifications frameworks and if

:31:56. > :32:01.there is a tool which is used for individuals and employers and they

:32:02. > :32:09.are beginning to refer to EQF levels in their CV 's. I hope soon to

:32:10. > :32:16.include adverts. The new EQF will build a bond. It looks to the future

:32:17. > :32:21.to keep pace with changes in qualifications and continue to be at

:32:22. > :32:25.the forefront of skilled transparency. Together with the nine

:32:26. > :32:29.other actions of the skills agenda for Europe, we aim for a joined up

:32:30. > :32:36.approach which promotes better skills in Europe. Thank you very

:32:37. > :32:44.much. TRANSLATION: We would like to to give the floor to another for two

:32:45. > :32:49.minutes play -- two minutes, please. I want to welcome the outcome of the

:32:50. > :32:55.use of the European qualifications process. This has become a source of

:32:56. > :32:59.reference and inspiration. Enabling the development of a qualification

:33:00. > :33:07.framework within Europe and globally despite this progress. Studies have

:33:08. > :33:13.shown that there are shortcomings that are hampering the main aim of

:33:14. > :33:20.the EQF. That is transparency and comparability within the EU. This

:33:21. > :33:24.initiative should accompany the policies that are underlined in the

:33:25. > :33:30.skills agenda for advanced mobility. This promotes skills that are

:33:31. > :33:34.relevant to a modern economy and a functional economy. It also

:33:35. > :33:38.complements a lifelong learning initiative together with

:33:39. > :33:48.transparency and a recognition of qualifications around the EU. Whilst

:33:49. > :33:56.we recognise that action on a level is necessary, this has to fall

:33:57. > :34:01.within the treaty parameters. We would stand to gain a lot more if we

:34:02. > :34:07.had broader cooperation and information mechanisms,

:34:08. > :34:13.transparency, comparability and cooperation. This will help support

:34:14. > :34:17.worker's mobility and that of Apprentices, enabling them to work

:34:18. > :34:24.to attain their lifelong learning objective and in-turn improving

:34:25. > :34:28.their employability. I have contribution towards the better use

:34:29. > :34:35.of skills and qualifications would make it easier for companies to

:34:36. > :34:39.employ them and to fill job vacancies available that are often

:34:40. > :34:48.difficult to fill because of the death in skilled candidates. We have

:34:49. > :34:56.to build upon what we have achieved so far and remove obstacles to

:34:57. > :34:58.mobility take to trust and recognition of qualifications

:34:59. > :35:10.irrespective of where they were obtained. We should do this to the

:35:11. > :35:30.benefit of the individual and enable the market and the economy. The next

:35:31. > :35:33.speaker for the European Parliament. It is a good opportunity to talk

:35:34. > :35:38.about qualifications and the revision that the council is going

:35:39. > :35:43.to be adopting in the next few days in the context of the EQF. In the

:35:44. > :35:47.context of the objections that were set out over the last few years by

:35:48. > :35:55.the European Commission, it is an important issue. Apprenticeships and

:35:56. > :35:58.a recognition of those were whether they are informal or informal

:35:59. > :36:02.throughout a career. This is important because of the changes

:36:03. > :36:06.occurring in the labour market where workers are more and more

:36:07. > :36:11.vulnerable. They have more short-term contracts and high levels

:36:12. > :36:14.of unemployment existing in many member states. Secondly, this is

:36:15. > :36:20.important because of the changes in the labour market forcing us to move

:36:21. > :36:25.towards these transitions because of digitalisation. We have new groups

:36:26. > :36:31.of vulnerability. People who have come here as refugees to Europe and

:36:32. > :36:35.they want to be able to access the labour market. It is a good thing we

:36:36. > :36:42.are talking about this and working on this but there are issues on the

:36:43. > :36:48.table. If we are going to be able to ensure this revision is properly

:36:49. > :36:52.adhered to, that is one issue. In the past, a number of member states

:36:53. > :36:57.have gone very far with this but not all of them. Some of them have been

:36:58. > :37:02.performing very differently. We have to guarantee access for all groups,

:37:03. > :37:09.particularly those risk groups. They have to access the labour market

:37:10. > :37:14.freely and easily. Thirdly, we have to be able to listen to the

:37:15. > :37:17.parliament because people haven't been listening to Parliament's views

:37:18. > :37:25.on this subject area will stop we have to make sure that we are aware

:37:26. > :37:31.of the fact that when it comes to supply and demand and the quality of

:37:32. > :37:35.the work, those are separate issues because demand is very important. We

:37:36. > :37:41.have massive issues to deal with an employment. Thank you. For the

:37:42. > :37:52.European Conservatives and reforms group now. TRANSLATION: Thank you

:37:53. > :37:57.very much. The possibility to acquire new knowledge or skills is

:37:58. > :38:02.no longer limited only to classical schools at the place of your

:38:03. > :38:06.residence. We have the Internet, distance learning, travelling per

:38:07. > :38:11.studies and working as a volunteer. All these are ways of how

:38:12. > :38:19.individuals can enhance their qualifications either at a young age

:38:20. > :38:24.or later in life. This is a way of acquiring skills and brings about

:38:25. > :38:30.the need to understand, evaluate and recognise these skills in order to

:38:31. > :38:34.improve the job prospects for the individual and to communicate to the

:38:35. > :38:41.potential employer what skills the potential employee has available.

:38:42. > :38:44.The EQF is a tool for the member states to better understand and

:38:45. > :38:52.recognise skills acquired in the education system is in other

:38:53. > :39:00.countries. Even though the relevant recommendation was adopted in 2008,

:39:01. > :39:04.we still have not implemented its goals, transparency and

:39:05. > :39:08.transferability of qualifications. It is therefore necessary to make

:39:09. > :39:13.this instrument more efficient in order to facilitate the situation

:39:14. > :39:18.for employers, workers and lawyers to understand a national and

:39:19. > :39:25.international qualification from third countries. Member states need

:39:26. > :39:27.to increase their effort to acknowledge and recognise

:39:28. > :39:34.qualifications and diplomas more quickly and more efficiently and

:39:35. > :39:40.also to reference the levels in the EQF. The result of referencing

:39:41. > :39:48.should be available at national and European level. We have to emphasise

:39:49. > :39:53.that it is an incompetence of member states to take care of the quality

:39:54. > :39:55.of education and the European qualification frame and that it

:39:56. > :40:04.doesn't interfere in any way. Thank you. TRANSLATION: For the group of

:40:05. > :40:10.the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, two minutes

:40:11. > :40:18.and 30 seconds. We are living in a world that changes everywhere. Our

:40:19. > :40:20.face changes. There is the development of knowledge, skills and

:40:21. > :40:27.competence. Both the private and public sector requires skills that

:40:28. > :40:30.are almost inconceivable 30 years ago and adapting to these changes,

:40:31. > :40:36.we should no longer follow the old school ways when it comes to

:40:37. > :40:42.education. Our education and training systems lag behind these

:40:43. > :40:47.dynamic limiting the recognition of non-formal and informal learning

:40:48. > :41:01.including the skills are a volunteer activity.

:41:02. > :41:07.There is the challenges that we face ahead and we have to look at them

:41:08. > :41:12.with open mind and confidence. Greater flexibility in skill's

:41:13. > :41:16.recognition is beneficial to the European citizens but can also lead

:41:17. > :41:21.to a better economic and social integration for migrant and refugee

:41:22. > :41:26.'s and responding to another challenge of the EU. At the same

:41:27. > :41:31.time, to structure dialogues with EU neighbourhood countries, especially

:41:32. > :41:35.the ones that have an association agreement with the EU, we should aim

:41:36. > :41:42.at referencing their national qualification frameworks to the EQF.

:41:43. > :41:45.If sooner or later this these -- these countries will become EU

:41:46. > :41:49.members, their citizens will be ready from day one to cope with the

:41:50. > :41:57.demands of the European market and labour. EU support through Dover --

:41:58. > :42:03.development aid should be directed to the third countries in order to

:42:04. > :42:07.offer assistance in the national qualifications frameworks. The

:42:08. > :42:14.revision of EQF should result in a framework that responds to all these

:42:15. > :42:25.existing challenges but also things ahead and anticipate potential

:42:26. > :42:45.problems. Thank you. For the convertible group of the European

:42:46. > :42:56.left the. We are focused on migrants from other member states and from

:42:57. > :43:01.the countries. This has the fundamental tool to facilitate

:43:02. > :43:07.recognition of skills that workers have when they are regularly

:43:08. > :43:10.discriminating against. This can contribute to national creations of

:43:11. > :43:29.public policies put --. It only looks at

:43:30. > :43:32.the economic potential of candidates will stop as such we are asking the

:43:33. > :43:37.commission to strengthen its cooperation with member states and

:43:38. > :43:48.with social stakeholders and with public employment services. Thank

:43:49. > :43:56.you. Have a group of freedom and I met democracy. I think that I can

:43:57. > :44:02.share a lot of the things that people have talked about and a lot

:44:03. > :44:10.of the good initiatives but there are two main things. I think the

:44:11. > :44:20.problem is we need to ensure that we are keeping pace with globalisation

:44:21. > :44:26.and the whole system of the education system. We need to make

:44:27. > :44:29.sure we are not levelling it out because there is a point in time

:44:30. > :44:35.where young people need to have personal development and training

:44:36. > :44:44.but what we are doing is creating a system that will destroy all of

:44:45. > :44:48.this. It will mean we have a one size fits all approach. Instead of

:44:49. > :44:53.keeping pace with the developments, we are going to be excluding a lot

:44:54. > :45:05.of people. Not everyone can adapt to that kind of thing. Sometimes were

:45:06. > :45:10.using the wrong approach. Instead of tackling the real problem of a lack

:45:11. > :45:14.of qualifications in the EU, the problem is because of an employment.

:45:15. > :45:18.Unemployment is the real problem. Putting a sticking plaster on this

:45:19. > :45:23.is not the way to go. We need to tackle the roots of the problem of

:45:24. > :45:29.unemployment. There are better ways of achieving this. Anything else we

:45:30. > :45:36.do will not be efficient if we don't do that. We don't create jobs. If we

:45:37. > :45:43.don't come measures to boost employment, then we are not going to

:45:44. > :45:45.get anywhere. We can talk about all kinds of wonderful qualification

:45:46. > :45:47.frameworks but there will be no point of this. We need to talk about

:45:48. > :45:59.mobility. Last year, 110,000 young people in

:46:00. > :46:02.Italy left my country, they left their own country because they did

:46:03. > :46:07.not see any prospect for them staying in Italy. And those people

:46:08. > :46:10.who left actually had qualifications, they had

:46:11. > :46:16.capabilities, but they didn't find the country, their own country, but

:46:17. > :46:24.was able to value their achievements, and they left. So, we

:46:25. > :46:27.need to ensure that we are not building a house by starting with

:46:28. > :46:41.the roof and not looking at the foundations. TRANSLATION: Madam

:46:42. > :46:45.President, dear colleagues, the EU wants to put in place in the

:46:46. > :46:55.European framework for qualifications for lifelong

:46:56. > :46:59.learning. The project is to ensure a better match between the available

:47:00. > :47:03.qualifications and those needed in the labour market. We have to take

:47:04. > :47:09.account of what the three levels of knowledge are, knowledge and skills,

:47:10. > :47:19.which can be acquired formally and informally. Unfortunately, the

:47:20. > :47:23.proposal, it has a full paragraph on the inclusion of migrants, and we

:47:24. > :47:35.are very much against this policy, taking into account the 25 million

:47:36. > :47:42.unemployed in Europe. This will devalue our education and

:47:43. > :47:47.qualifications systems. It puts the larger question of mobility, better

:47:48. > :47:55.equivalence of codification is, as a pretext to develop mobility of

:47:56. > :48:03.workers, fostering the source of greater security. The EU has tried

:48:04. > :48:09.in the past to have education without success. This new provision

:48:10. > :48:16.is not destined for any greater success. For all these reasons, we

:48:17. > :48:19.will vote against this text, and will be putting down amendments so

:48:20. > :48:28.that this framework is not mandatory. Member states should be

:48:29. > :48:32.able to remain free, of igniting formal and informal convocation is,

:48:33. > :48:40.given their own conditions and needs. We have got the wrong target,

:48:41. > :48:45.we should have a new regulation to preserve fair competition and not

:48:46. > :48:54.fostering unfair competition between east and west. That is to say,

:48:55. > :48:59.competition between migrants and European persons. Thank you very

:49:00. > :49:22.much for your attention. Next Speaker.

:49:23. > :49:36.TRANSLATION: This has been in place for about ten years now, and the aim

:49:37. > :49:46.was to provide staffing levels, with the requisite qualifications. For

:49:47. > :49:51.people who have the right level of qualifications, to enable them to be

:49:52. > :50:03.able to change jobs throughout their working lives. This is something

:50:04. > :50:10.that was supposed to give the best available profiles to the capitalist

:50:11. > :50:17.system. And now they are seeking to completely exploit the migrants as

:50:18. > :50:26.well. The line of the Greek government, when it comes to

:50:27. > :50:32.imposing massive sacrifices on people, in the context of the fourth

:50:33. > :50:42.memorandum, the line of the Greek woman is fine in this direction now.

:50:43. > :50:48.The people have to rise up and fight back, this is the only solution. We

:50:49. > :50:52.are launching an appeal so that everybody can participate in a

:50:53. > :51:04.general strike against the line of the government in the big capitals.

:51:05. > :51:11.The European qualifications framework is the main tool for

:51:12. > :51:18.sophistication of mobility of employees and greater comparability

:51:19. > :51:22.of the verification systems. Qualifications differ across the

:51:23. > :51:27.European Union, which makes it difficult to assess skills by

:51:28. > :51:32.employers. The European qualifications framework should

:51:33. > :51:43.Felicity opportunities in a knowledge-based society and ensure a

:51:44. > :51:50.better comparability between the systems and education programmes.

:51:51. > :51:59.The commission proposes to revise the system, as Mrs commissioner has

:52:00. > :52:04.just presented. I would like to emphasise that the commission should

:52:05. > :52:11.focus more on implementation of the current framework, because the

:52:12. > :52:16.current framework has not been fully introduced yet by member states. So,

:52:17. > :52:23.we have new proposals on the table, but implementing them should create

:52:24. > :52:27.an effective system implemented by all stakeholders. It is also very

:52:28. > :52:33.important that the commission supports a mechanism to enable

:52:34. > :52:41.comparison of qualifications and the validation of informal learning. We

:52:42. > :52:57.have asked relevant questions to the commission in our oral question. I

:52:58. > :53:03.am looking forward to fruitful debate and co-operation on the loo

:53:04. > :53:18.legislation. Thank you very much. -- on the new legislation. Thank you,

:53:19. > :53:21.President. Of course, in our current gender, achieving employment for our

:53:22. > :53:30.citizens is something that has got to be a priority. And what we've got

:53:31. > :53:35.to do is ensure that skills and knowledge that the people have, and

:53:36. > :53:42.capabilities that the people have, is given its true worth, because it

:53:43. > :53:48.is extremely viable. This is extremely important in an economy

:53:49. > :53:52.which is changing all the time, to explore new avenues. It's very

:53:53. > :54:01.important to ensure that supplies and demand of work tellies. Look at

:54:02. > :54:10.the labour market today. It requires flexibility. -- tallies. Constant

:54:11. > :54:22.updating and constant training is required. And I think training and

:54:23. > :54:33.vocational training needs to ensure that there is mobility guaranteed

:54:34. > :54:39.for workers. Migratory flows are such now that there is a challenge

:54:40. > :54:44.to integrate people, newcomers. And it is important to realise that.

:54:45. > :54:50.People coming from third countries, too. So, we've got to try and

:54:51. > :54:56.integrate all these problems. Transference of skills is extremely

:54:57. > :55:04.important, from one state to the other, to sustain the demand and

:55:05. > :55:11.also to boost employment. The best response I think to the challenges

:55:12. > :55:18.facing us today, demographic and technological, is to ensure that we

:55:19. > :55:28.make sure that we have equal opportunities and that we emphasise

:55:29. > :55:38.new skills. TRANSLATION: Thank you, Madam President. This is an

:55:39. > :55:42.ambitious instrument which promotes efficient mobility among member

:55:43. > :55:49.states and facilitates lifelong learning. The stress is put on the

:55:50. > :55:59.results, knowledge, capacity and competence. The new priorities

:56:00. > :56:06.within the framework, by 2020, enable those learning and working to

:56:07. > :56:09.better present their abilities and skills toddle regardless of where

:56:10. > :56:18.they were acquired. But the devil is in the details as always. What about

:56:19. > :56:28.qualifications from third countries? How should this interact with points

:56:29. > :56:34.system and Deacon elation of points from other systems, where

:56:35. > :56:40.competencies are required. How to best describe the term on patents.

:56:41. > :56:41.This is very difficult, we cannot interfere with competence in the

:56:42. > :57:01.mistakes with respect to education. TRANSLATION: The European framework

:57:02. > :57:11.of vocational qualifications for lifelong learning took seven words

:57:12. > :57:23.that shows that this has a link to reality. And this is being praised.

:57:24. > :57:31.Full employment has been pretty much forgotten, even though we are in

:57:32. > :57:38.favour of this. There are experienced workers and young

:57:39. > :57:43.people, with qualifications, have been unemployed for years and have

:57:44. > :57:51.the feeling that they are not needed. We should change our

:57:52. > :57:55.priorities. First of all, we should have new arrangements for

:57:56. > :58:02.employment, otherwise things like this qualifications framework will

:58:03. > :58:10.actually increase the number of unemployed people. Thank you. Thank

:58:11. > :58:15.you, commissioner. Thank you for this important tool that is

:58:16. > :58:19.available to us, telling us about the kind of Europe that we would

:58:20. > :58:22.like to see in the area of education. The role of the European

:58:23. > :58:27.Union is to build, which is between different actors and different

:58:28. > :58:32.policies are social, economic, youth policy or education policy, to show

:58:33. > :58:38.that there is a pathway which we can embark upon, and ways to create

:58:39. > :58:42.syndication which fit into the European framework, ensuring

:58:43. > :58:49.portability of skills in order to meet with realities and trends in

:58:50. > :58:54.society. The framework is crucial to improve employability and mobility.

:58:55. > :59:00.There are many different educational pathways, as many as there are

:59:01. > :59:12.individuals, and we need to make training accessible to all. Mobility

:59:13. > :59:18.is important, particularly for young people, and young people living near

:59:19. > :59:26.the border is at stake when it comes to this recognition of diplomas and

:59:27. > :59:30.skills. This will make the connection throughout the EU between

:59:31. > :59:40.those qualifications in different member states. It will ensure that

:59:41. > :59:42.there is no mismatch between the skills which are out there and the

:59:43. > :59:49.skills which are needed on the labour market.

:59:50. > :59:59.Are you TRANSLATION: A lifelong learning is necessary if you want to

:00:00. > :00:06.be successful in the labour market when it comes to new technologies,

:00:07. > :00:12.or to my reservation, new IT and so on. Since the crisis, we have

:00:13. > :00:20.introduced a number of support programmes for education and the new

:00:21. > :00:26.posts of work. It turns out that the unemployment rate continues to be

:00:27. > :00:36.very high. Even though in many countries we have many positions not

:00:37. > :00:42.covered because we don't have the people with the right qualifications

:00:43. > :00:46.and skills for them. When the framework was created, lifelong

:00:47. > :00:56.learning was an important pillar of this. We know the systems of

:00:57. > :01:03.education are... Big qualifications framework was supposed to enable an

:01:04. > :01:13.exchange between the member states so that we do not have these

:01:14. > :01:22.obstacles in the area. The targets of the original EQF were not totally

:01:23. > :01:27.fulfilled so I agree with the commission that the revised

:01:28. > :01:34.framework should work better because it was only implemented partially. I

:01:35. > :01:39.agree with the member states and with the questions that were asked

:01:40. > :01:41.and I expect and says to those questions from the commission. Thank

:01:42. > :02:05.you. Thank you. TRANSLATION: Thank you very much.

:02:06. > :02:10.The main thing is that this can be exercised and that entails

:02:11. > :02:21.recognition is of qualifications, professional, formal or informal.

:02:22. > :02:26.That is something that benefits the workers or potential workers

:02:27. > :02:33.themselves but employers also have to help with this. On the other

:02:34. > :02:41.hand, there are disadvantages for the employers because they can

:02:42. > :02:48.employ people on lower wages. The report focuses on recognising the

:02:49. > :02:53.qualifications of refugees and migrants. Surely this is another way

:02:54. > :03:04.of generating another flood of workers which will only keep wages

:03:05. > :03:11.in the European lower. The new commission's proposals are business

:03:12. > :03:22.as usual. They lead to no good results. We need to review the

:03:23. > :03:34.framework. This does not bring growth or reduction of unemployment.

:03:35. > :03:44.Policies need to cover both education and training of workers

:03:45. > :03:48.and create new jobs. Our states pay for apprenticeships but this is not

:03:49. > :03:55.a strategic choice. This is just help to increase the profits of

:03:56. > :04:04.businesses. We cannot port all burden on the shoulders of workers.

:04:05. > :04:12.Migration, expanding skills, mobility not a solution. On the

:04:13. > :04:23.contrary, they pressure for more social dumping. Thank you.

:04:24. > :04:32.Lifelong learning and this framework is an important instrument to ensure

:04:33. > :04:38.mobility of students and employees. In 2006, I was able to ensure that

:04:39. > :04:43.equal quality between vocational training and academical training was

:04:44. > :04:50.recognised. We want Copenhagen to have the same value as the loan --

:04:51. > :04:57.Bologna. We need to improve the recognition of such skills. There

:04:58. > :05:00.are different educational levels covering the entire range of

:05:01. > :05:05.education. Unfortunately we don't have all of the pathways in the

:05:06. > :05:09.member states. We quite rightly asks the European Commission to what

:05:10. > :05:15.extent we can make this qualification framework more of a

:05:16. > :05:18.reality. In many cases, improved cooperation can result between those

:05:19. > :05:24.offering education and national authorities. It is important to --

:05:25. > :05:30.that the unique characteristics of national systems can be maintained.

:05:31. > :05:36.We have a system that is ready for the future and the real value in the

:05:37. > :05:46.internal market can be achieved over decades. In the reform that we are

:05:47. > :05:51.working towards, the instrument of the EQF can be simplified, unified

:05:52. > :05:58.and improved. Reducing the red tape and increasing the flexibility. We

:05:59. > :06:06.are working in education to see a real added value in Europe and

:06:07. > :06:12.inspiration. TRANSLATION: Madam President, I support the European

:06:13. > :06:18.connotation -- qualification framework because I believe this

:06:19. > :06:20.would lead to transparency and a level of comparability between

:06:21. > :06:26.qualifications in different member states. Technology is evolving

:06:27. > :06:33.rapidly and as is the labour market. The EU needs a whole range of skills

:06:34. > :06:41.which will help us to make more progress. However, skills and

:06:42. > :06:49.confidence that has been acquired outside of official systems are

:06:50. > :06:52.still underestimated. This is a hindrance to European citizens

:06:53. > :06:58.because sometimes it means they can't get jobs or promotions. The

:06:59. > :07:01.review of the framework should lead to better visibility the skills that

:07:02. > :07:08.people have gained outside of classrooms. Only Sweden and the

:07:09. > :07:11.Netherlands have introduced systems to recognise the formal

:07:12. > :07:17.qualifications and I would call upon member states to give more

:07:18. > :07:23.visibility to informal studies as well as volunteering and voluntary

:07:24. > :07:32.work in the national frameworks. It will improve chances for young

:07:33. > :07:38.people. Thank you. TRANSLATION: Thank you very much. First of all I

:07:39. > :07:48.would like to thank the commission for taking the initiative to revise

:07:49. > :07:56.the European framework which hasn't been fully implemented although they

:07:57. > :08:03.were adopted six years ago. Why? The European framework was formed in

:08:04. > :08:07.response to the need to equalise and make comparable the diplomas and

:08:08. > :08:12.qualifications. If such an important goal is not implemented, there must

:08:13. > :08:20.be a cause and it has to do with the instrument. We have seen what

:08:21. > :08:26.difficulties this European framework was implemented international

:08:27. > :08:30.systems. It seems the framework is insufficient and there are new

:08:31. > :08:38.challenges. There is education outside the formal system. We have

:08:39. > :08:44.high-class IT experts who obtain skills outside the formal

:08:45. > :08:51.frameworks. We need to understand what diplomas and certificates of

:08:52. > :09:01.persons coming to the EU from third countries are worth. Some kind of

:09:02. > :09:05.system is required. There is a need to determine what is the level of

:09:06. > :09:13.the European qualifications framework to make it more popular

:09:14. > :09:22.and more recognised by both citizens and employers. It is also important

:09:23. > :09:26.to take into the account, this proposition of the agenda for

:09:27. > :09:33.qualifications to assure comparable to those skills. To compare national

:09:34. > :09:46.systems and to exchange good practices. Thank you.

:09:47. > :09:52.The diversity of educational pathways represents an opportunity

:09:53. > :09:57.for sustainable economic development as well as personal development of

:09:58. > :10:02.learners and citizens. I know from personal experience that lifelong

:10:03. > :10:07.learning develops creative and critical thinking, helping us to

:10:08. > :10:12.gain in soft confidence to become a problem solvers, entrepreneurs and

:10:13. > :10:15.responsible citizens and to acquire the intercultural, social and

:10:16. > :10:21.transversal skills needed to achieve more inclusive, open and tolerant

:10:22. > :10:25.communities. We are often asked to equip learners with skills and

:10:26. > :10:32.competences for a world that does not yet exist. Therefore, probably

:10:33. > :10:35.including lifelong learning in our education policy is key and

:10:36. > :10:41.promoting EU collaboration and harmonisation across member states

:10:42. > :10:46.is important. In the context of democratic changes, flexible

:10:47. > :10:48.economies and uncertain job Martin is characterised by increasing

:10:49. > :10:55.digitisation, Robitaille 's Asian and automation of production, we

:10:56. > :10:59.must embrace the concept of occupational literacy, promoting

:11:00. > :11:04.active engagement in arts, citizenship and sport. Furthermore,

:11:05. > :11:07.we must include refugees as they have much to offer and they arrive

:11:08. > :11:15.with skills and desire to contribute. Furthermore, we must

:11:16. > :11:22.include refugees as they have much to offer and they arrive with skills

:11:23. > :11:24.and a desire to contribute. Sun-macro the other day about the

:11:25. > :11:36.framework is a very fine idea. It is linked to the labour market. I

:11:37. > :11:44.support all the efforts to recognise informal and non-formal learning and

:11:45. > :11:53.skills. If we want to shape the uniform of the market and the single

:11:54. > :11:55.market, then we also need to recognise this skills obtained

:11:56. > :12:04.elsewhere. The free flow of learning and it is one of the key actions.

:12:05. > :12:10.This is not fully implemented will stop only a few people use the

:12:11. > :12:14.possibility to migrate and should the European qualifications

:12:15. > :12:19.framework be amended, then this would encourage the workforce

:12:20. > :12:24.mobility which will have long-standing effects on the

:12:25. > :12:26.economy. People looking for jobs abroad face difficulties,

:12:27. > :12:31.particularly when their qualifications need to be

:12:32. > :12:36.recognised. It is not only them who are facing challenges. The employers

:12:37. > :12:42.had to recognise the skills that these people are bringing with them.

:12:43. > :12:49.Therefore I believe that it would be necessary to introduce a type of

:12:50. > :12:53.certificated and so that we would apply uniformed criteria so as to

:12:54. > :13:06.know who is offering what in the market. This will be good for all.

:13:07. > :13:15.Thank you. TRANSLATION: Thank you. Free circulation of people is one of

:13:16. > :13:23.the rights of our citizens. It is a pillar on which the internal market

:13:24. > :13:27.is founded. However, despite this lack of comparability and mutual

:13:28. > :13:31.recognition of diplomas is a major obstacle which prevents a lot of

:13:32. > :13:40.Europeans from finding jobs outside their borders. Achieving some kind

:13:41. > :13:46.of convergence between such diverse systems will be a very positive step

:13:47. > :13:50.towards achieving our objective. We have got to continue down this track

:13:51. > :13:55.and we have got to fully commend the European qualifications framework

:13:56. > :14:02.and do so in a way that fits in with the other systems. This will mean

:14:03. > :14:10.that supply and demand could be matched better in the labour market

:14:11. > :14:13.and companies would be an easier position to interpret qualifications

:14:14. > :14:17.and the abilities of candidates. This would lead to greater mobility

:14:18. > :14:23.between countries and at the end of the day, it will help generate jobs.

:14:24. > :14:28.Mobistine are adapting their national frameworks to the European

:14:29. > :14:34.framework. -- member states. A lot of them are still in the initial

:14:35. > :14:38.stages of this. I'm asking, why are you planning to renew this framework

:14:39. > :14:50.which has not yet been fully implemented and which we haven't yet

:14:51. > :14:57.been able to assess? TRANSLATION: Colleagues, with regards to the

:14:58. > :15:04.questions to the commission, I have to point to the fact that we have to

:15:05. > :15:11.measure how our environment reflects the knowledge ability of our

:15:12. > :15:16.qualifications. Let us know that there are quite a few problems and

:15:17. > :15:17.faults but still the European Union is developing fast. Why is this

:15:18. > :15:26.important? Why is this important? People who

:15:27. > :15:31.come from outside the borders of the European Union, the migrants, are

:15:32. > :15:40.quite often having very low skills, quite often catching up needs as

:15:41. > :15:45.long as the decade. To us just think about the lack of knowledge of

:15:46. > :15:54.languages come if a technician living in the north of Africa learns

:15:55. > :16:04.his skills on machines that are very obsolete now, his skills now cannot

:16:05. > :16:08.be equal, cannot be acknowledged, cannot be equal to those of a

:16:09. > :16:12.technician here in Europe. Technology develops fast, therefore,

:16:13. > :16:17.these questions are quite pertinent. Let us not turn this into a

:16:18. > :16:27.political problem, a political question, that's why I support all

:16:28. > :16:34.the motions that protect the high-quality skills. This is a basic

:16:35. > :16:46.value. We need to strengthen the European Union.

:16:47. > :16:55.Thank you, Madam President. First of all, let me say that any sensible

:16:56. > :17:01.citizen, or indeed employer, in Europe, is in favour of supporting

:17:02. > :17:06.and improving qualifications and realises that this is a necessity,

:17:07. > :17:11.as is the need to have comparability between formal and informal

:17:12. > :17:19.training. Some objectives have been set, but they are still to be

:17:20. > :17:23.achieved. Now, that problem is up to the memo states, because they simply

:17:24. > :17:31.have not implemented the objectives properly. That is a big problem,

:17:32. > :17:40.particularly in terms of the rules, and if the EU isn't really working

:17:41. > :17:47.on these issues, such as basic rules which underpins the single market,

:17:48. > :17:53.then I think we are in serious difficulty. It is a serious problem.

:17:54. > :17:58.And I think that means we've got to get rid of any administrative

:17:59. > :18:00.hurdles, for instance in the acknowledgement and recognition of

:18:01. > :18:06.qualifications. And I think that's what the EU needs to do. Make this

:18:07. > :18:11.easier, get rid of the hurdles, and in a few years, when we come back to

:18:12. > :18:17.looking at this framework, we hope that our successors won't be saying

:18:18. > :18:22.that objectives and hopes have not been delivered on. So, I sincerely

:18:23. > :18:36.hope that this will be implemented properly. Thank you. We move now to

:18:37. > :18:46.the Catch The Eye procedure. This framework has been a significant

:18:47. > :18:51.driver of reforms. Not all of the objectives of the recommendation

:18:52. > :18:57.from 2008 well recognised. This is why, if we take European

:18:58. > :19:00.cross-border mobility of learners and lifelong learning seriously, it

:19:01. > :19:05.is important that we make qualifications more transparent and

:19:06. > :19:10.understandable across front countries and different educational

:19:11. > :19:15.systems. One of the greatest challenges is posed by the changes

:19:16. > :19:22.over time in revocation systems. This makes it necessary to keep

:19:23. > :19:26.referencing things and up-to-date, especially considering the

:19:27. > :19:31.increasing proliferation of industry based training and certifications. I

:19:32. > :19:34.would especially welcome if the commission could provide more

:19:35. > :19:46.details on this. Thank you very much.

:19:47. > :19:54.I asked for the floor because I would like to add a couple of things

:19:55. > :20:00.to this debate. First of all, yes, of course I agree with one of the

:20:01. > :20:07.objectives, which is the harmonisation of diplomas. But, dear

:20:08. > :20:12.colleagues one of the other issues we should explore is the

:20:13. > :20:18.commercialisation of education. You study three years, and then again

:20:19. > :20:24.and again, total nine years, and then you're jobless. This is the

:20:25. > :20:31.main problem. I would like to put this to the session. Someone said, I

:20:32. > :20:36.was fine with my education until I went to school. In other words, what

:20:37. > :20:40.we are lacking is education with a humanitarian background, with a

:20:41. > :20:47.human face. Education, well, that's human face. Education, well, that's

:20:48. > :20:59.easy, but we need education that makes our citizens more human. Thank

:21:00. > :21:07.you. Thank you for the floor, Madam Chair. I would like to congratulate

:21:08. > :21:15.you for attacking this very important work of amending the

:21:16. > :21:18.European convocations framework. I recall March 2008, when we finally

:21:19. > :21:27.adopted the first document with this title. Back then, I was chairing, I

:21:28. > :21:30.was actually the minister responsible for education in the

:21:31. > :21:35.country which was holding this item for the European Union, and I was

:21:36. > :21:39.signing this document, which I deemed a special privilege. So, it

:21:40. > :21:42.has been ten years and I am not really satisfied with the

:21:43. > :21:45.fermentation of this document in member states. But as you have

:21:46. > :21:52.mentioned, practically all member states will this year weather all

:21:53. > :21:56.key elements of this framework. In this respect, I will call it a

:21:57. > :22:00.success nonetheless, and I'm especially glad that you decided to

:22:01. > :22:06.upgrade the basic document. We need to establish that we are not talking

:22:07. > :22:09.about the recognition of qualifications, but rather about the

:22:10. > :22:14.transparency and comparability of convocations. If we are unable to

:22:15. > :22:20.compare educational results twin member states, then the European

:22:21. > :22:26.educational systems would continue to go the wrong way. And I believe

:22:27. > :22:38.that this document enables a type of harmonisation between convocations.

:22:39. > :22:46.Thank you very much. Thank you, one minute. TRANSLATION: Ladies and

:22:47. > :22:53.gentlemen, the European convocations framework for lifelong learning is

:22:54. > :22:59.an important step towards greater transparency and recognition of

:23:00. > :23:07.skills, facilitating mobility within the Common Market. The proposal of

:23:08. > :23:15.new guidelines of the council shows that the framework is used in all

:23:16. > :23:22.member states, but convergence of descriptions of similar convocations

:23:23. > :23:26.has not been achieved, which is an obstacle to their mutual

:23:27. > :23:31.recognition. So, memo states should still seek harmonisation of

:23:32. > :23:37.qualifications, in line with European standards. It is important

:23:38. > :23:44.to apply them in education and training institutions and employment

:23:45. > :23:50.agencies, to ensure their application and to make them a

:23:51. > :23:52.the new recommendations of the the new recommendations of the

:23:53. > :24:02.council will be useful in this regard. Thank you. Thank you. This

:24:03. > :24:06.brings us to the end of the debate. And now, for the replies to the

:24:07. > :24:16.numerous questions and the very valid discussion, I handover. Thank

:24:17. > :24:22.you very much, Madam President. Dear members of Parliament, I would like

:24:23. > :24:28.to thank you for the todays' debate which shows the accordance attached

:24:29. > :24:37.to this framework. I will not go into the detail of all of your

:24:38. > :24:44.questions but I would like to stress that the EQF is a tool to make

:24:45. > :24:46.convocations more transparent and it is not about harmonisation of

:24:47. > :24:54.qualifications. Secondly, it builds on the achievements of the

:24:55. > :25:01.recommendation of 2008, and it will make EQF a more effective tool,

:25:02. > :25:03.relevant to the reality of today and to the evolving nature of

:25:04. > :25:10.qualifications. And finally, the future success of the EQF is in the

:25:11. > :25:14.hands of member states and stakeholders who were in charge of

:25:15. > :25:20.fermentation. The commission's role will be one of support. Dear members

:25:21. > :25:24.of Parliament, I count on your continuous support for the EQF and

:25:25. > :25:29.for other initiatives within the European skills agenda. It is indeed

:25:30. > :25:35.our joint responsibility to offer citizens are necessary tools to

:25:36. > :25:42.develop their skills and find the jobs that is right for them. Of

:25:43. > :25:50.course, this counts especially for the more than 19 million unemployed

:25:51. > :25:55.people in our union. Skills are of utmost importance for them, so we

:25:56. > :26:01.work on it. Also by improving the EQF. And as you know, this is only

:26:02. > :26:12.one of our actions to create more jobs, more growth and fairness in

:26:13. > :26:17.our union. Thank you very much. TRANSLATION: Thank you very much,

:26:18. > :26:25.commissioner, for those replies. That brings us to the end of that

:26:26. > :26:28.debate. The motion for resolution from the committee on employment and

:26:29. > :26:37.social affairs will be voted on tomorrow. On Wednesday, I stand

:26:38. > :26:43.corrected. Thank you once again. We move on now to the following night

:26:44. > :26:44.on the agenda. Next on our agenda, we have the report on resource

:26:45. > :26:52.efficiency...