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Mr President, as chairman of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, I should like it confirmed – for the record – that all the letters of assessment on the Commissioners–designate have been forwarded to Mr Barroso, President–designate of the Commission.

Mr Chichester, I note your request.

You will certainly be given an appropriate confirmation.

Mr President, last Sunday, speaking to my country’s top newspaper, Mrs Loyola de Palacio stated that Spain was losing weight in the European Union and becoming an appendage of France and Germany.

We have said in this House over recent days that everybody has the right to think and express their opinions, whatever they may be, but when that opinion clashes with the responsibilities of a Vice-President of the Commission, calling into question three States of the Union, we believe that is very serious.

Since we believe it to be an insult to my country, Spain, and probably to two other countries of the Union, I would call on the Vice-President of the Commission for a specific rectification and on acting-President Prodi to intervene.

Mr Martínez, as you yourself have mentioned, the predominant responsibility for reacting to this issue lies with Mr Prodi and the Commission and I have no doubt that appropriate reactions will be given, in accordance with the political sensibilities of those primarily involved.

The next item is oral question B6-0019/04 by Mrs Záborská, on behalf of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, to the Commission, on women and poverty.

, . Mr President, Madam Commissioner, on Sunday 17 October the international community observed the International Day for the Elimination of Poverty, in order to draw attention to poverty as a violation of human rights.

We are endeavouring to eliminate poverty, but, if we are to succeed in this, society must redouble its efforts.

It must take as its starting-point the experiences of those who actually live in poverty, and of the families that reject poverty and do everything to ensure a better future for their children.

Such people are a lasting testimony to the idea that wherever there are women, children and men condemned to a life of poverty, their human rights are violated.

It is our fundamental duty to unite in order to ensure that these rights are respected throughout the European Union.

On 17 October 1987, in response to the call of Father Jozef Brezinsky, 100 000 defenders of human rights gathered in rue Trocadero in Paris to pay their respects to the victims of hunger, violence and ignorance.

They demonstrated their opposition to poverty and called on the human race to unite in order to ensure respect for human rights.

The European Parliament subsequently adopted this position in its annual reports on basic human rights in the European Union.

In 1996, in the same spirit, the United Nations launched its first Decade for the Elimination of World Poverty.

Through the Lisbon Agenda the European Union also became active in this area.

Allow me to mention two important points that relate to this problem.

The first is the adoption of a position on participation.

It is important for the poorest members of society to participate directly in the planning, implementation and evaluation of programmes and strategies.

The World Bank, for example, has adopted precisely this type of participatory approach in the fight against poverty.

As far as the European institutions are concerned, there should be much more determination and conviction, as well as the appropriate instruments, if they are to be able to act effectively.

In spite of the finest resolutions, European Community policy has not been sufficiently successful in dealing with the feminisation of poverty.

Programmes to counter social exclusion often lack specific measures aimed at women.

I am thinking, above all, of single mothers, widows, handicapped women and pensioners, women who have become dependent on others, and also of women who suffer sexual discrimination within their ethnic group or other minority.

In short the European project has failed to create equal opportunities.

I am, however, filled with pride when I see women taking on important responsibilities with respect to inter-generational solidarity within the framework of the family.

I am convinced that each and every woman can have a positive influence on the ways in which society is organised and its structure is shaped.

Since all women support basic human values like truth and justice, love and freedom, they should be supported in the fostering and propagation of these values in their family and professional lives.

I would like to pay special homage to those who live far from their homes or in difficult conditions, but who manage to overcome their suffering and exhaustion in order to help their nearest and dearest.

In this respect I utterly condemn those people traffickers who exploit vulnerable women and children like these.

The second important aspect is the Internal Stability Pact.

It is generally recognised that poverty is a real test for democratic systems.

In spite of this, the European Union heads of state and their governments have refused to recognise the elimination of poverty as one of the aims of the European Union in the draft Constitutional Agreement.

Many have already heard of the Stability and Growth Pact.

On 17 October I would like to introduce another kind of stability pact, an internal stability pact, which would give women and impoverished families more self-esteem and dignity, a pact that would open the doors of society to women and the poor.

We should support this pact for internal stability within an enlarged Europe and eliminate poverty, thereby promoting solidarity between generations, outlawing discrimination, and encouraging equality of opportunity and constructive dialogue, so that together we can build a genuine partnership with the weakest members of society.

. Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to start by thanking Mrs Záborská and the members of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality for tackling this extremely important issue.

Thank you also, Mrs Záborská, for your passionate speech.

I cannot, however, go along with your general assertion that the European Union has failed to bring about equality.

From the very beginning of the European Union, equality of opportunity has had a major role both in the Treaty and in legislation, and much has been achieved.

It is true, though, that poverty, and consequently social exclusion, are more of a threat to women, including those in Europe’s Member States – whether in or out of work, whether young or old – than to men.

Very many women have no secure income of their own and are financially dependent on their families or obliged to rely on minimal incomes.

Many women of pensionable age have an inadequate pension or none at all, whether because they have never worked, have stopped working, have been obliged to stop working, or were employed part-time.

What is especially alarming is that, where families are in poverty, the burden falls to a disproportionate extent on women.

There are two causes underlying this: one is the gender-specific aspects of working life and the other is the gender-specific division of labour in families.

Single-parent families, most of which, as you have said, consist of women with children, very often find themselves in financial need, and we should have particular respect for women bringing up children on their own.

The adverse effects are compounded in the case of women belonging to at-risk or excluded groups such as immigrants, ethnic minorities or the disabled.

Such women are very often the victims of multiple discrimination, something that has ceased to be acceptable, and this is where our campaign against poverty and social exclusion must start.

The efforts of the actors at European and national level to combat poverty among women and what you have termed the feminisation of poverty may be observed in the context of the open method of coordination in the field of social inclusion.

Even though primary responsibility for this still lies with the Member States, the European Commission and the Social Protection Committee have an important part to play in effectively implementing the principle of gender mainstreaming.

Among the shared goals underpinning the process is gender balance, which is to be taken fully into account when drawing up action plans at national level.

Such plans should also provide for measures geared to the specific needs of women, with the Member States being required to ensure the involvement of non-governmental organisations dealing with women’s specific needs in the development, follow-up and evaluation of the national action plans.

Along with the open method of coordination in the spheres of poverty and exclusion, there is to be a Community action programme running until the end of 2006, and cooperation between the Member States in combating social exclusion is also to be supported.

It is worth mentioning that one criterion for the granting of financial aid – in the Structural Funds, for example – is the promotion of gender equality.

As has already been mentioned, the Commission is aware that it is women in particular who are at risk of poverty when they reach retirement age.

It is in relation to this that the open coordination method has also been applied to such issues as the adequacy of pensions and the financial sustainability of pension systems.

A series of initiatives taken at EU level over recent years have helped to give practical expression to the concerns raised by your House in its 1994 resolution on women’s poverty in Europe.

These include, for example, not only the measures under the open method of coordination, but also the reversal of the burden of proof in legislation on gender equality and the latest directive based on Article 13 of the Treaty establishing the European Communities.

Gender mainstreaming has been included in the European employment strategy, and reform of the Structural Funds involves giving them an even stronger gender equality dimension.

I am sure we are all agreed that reliable and specific data are needed if strategies are to be effective and focussed.

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Data, broken down by gender, are of crucial importance in combating poverty and social exclusion; without them, indicators cannot be watertight.

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The open method of coordination in relation to social exclusion uses a number of common indicators, supplemented by national data, as a framework for exchange and analysis.

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The breakdown of all indicators by gender is standard; they must also be divided up by reference to age in order to take special account of children and child poverty.

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The Commission regularly publishes quantitative information on poverty and social exclusion, and this is broken down by gender and age.

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I can assure you that the Commission is aware of the problems of women in poverty.

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It is also aware that poverty is one of the principal reasons and causes underlying the trafficking in women and other forms of sexual exploitation.

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I would like to press home the point that none of us – the European institutions, the Member States or society – can tolerate women falling victim to exploitation, whether this be sexual or takes some other form.

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We must continue to act decisively and make further effort to combat the causes that exist.

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We must ensure that more economic possibilities are open to women, that they gain greater economic independence and full access to economic resources, to support and assistance and to education.

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– Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I was in Geneva, Switzerland, last Wednesday in order to attend an event, when I noticed a huge billboard advertising the fact that there is poverty in society.

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It particularly caught my attention and I automatically thought that such a billboard would not be out of place in our societies, in the European Union.

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Unfortunately, we all need to realise this, even we who are responsible for policy-making and come into daily contact with reality, because it is something which offends our democracy and brings the effectiveness of our policies into question.

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The statistics we have at our disposal are both revealing and worrying.

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An average of 15% in the European Union of the 15 at least, in the old European Union; anyway, the problem is chronic in most countries.

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Nor is the situation uniform and this is something which we should pay particular attention to, in order to find out why the situation is better in some places than others and what good results are being achieved.

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From Sweden to Ireland and from the countries of the south to the new Member States, the situation is very serious everywhere for certain groups, such as the unemployed, single parents, the elderly living alone and families with large numbers of children and women are in the majority in all these groups.

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The citizens of the European Union – and women especially – have extremely acute concerns and demands, as we all saw during the European elections.

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That time is still very close. The debate on the Constitution will focus on these issues, if my experience is anything to go by.

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Let us all be prepared for that; we need to prepare not only our responses to the dialogue, but also our policies, at both European and national level.

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The debate on the financial perspectives for 2007-2013, the new regulation on the Structural Funds and next year's budget give us ample opportunity to turn our attention to these matters.

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However, it is not only the financial resources which we provide for employment and social support policies that count.

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A better qualitative approach to the evaluation of our policies is needed. We need to see if the money we provide is having an effect, at least in accordance with our wishes and calculations.

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Are the European Commission and the Council (which is absent today, as usual during such debates) satisfied with the evaluation being made of the national action plans on employment, the national action plans for social integration, the results of coordination, to which you referred, Commissioner?

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Are they getting to the root of the problems and the results?

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Has the gender dimension been substantively integrated?

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The Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality has insisted many times and has made numerous recommendations on efficient and substantive gender integration.

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However, for this special studies and research are needed, statistics need to be collated by category and, as you mentioned Commissioner, indicators are needed.

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We also need, of course, to look at all the statistics we collate at a harmonised level, because the statistics of certain Member States of the European Union are not harmonised.

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Harmonisation is necessary if we are to be able to collate real data and have comparative tables which will allow us to make better use of our policies of exchanging best practices.

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I believe that this is vital, not only to our cohesion in the Europe of the 25, but also to preparations for a new enlargement and to the success of the objectives of development aid in our foreign relations.

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Mr President, Commissioner, you have depicted for us the situation ten years on from this House’s adoption of the report on combating poverty among women in Europe, and have taken stock of it; I have to say that we have achieved a fair bit, and a lot has happened in Europe.

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One might say that, at the Beijing World Conference on Women, Europe stood out as a beacon of women’s rights.

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We have always spearheaded them, and thus it is particularly painful that we have been unable to bring about any decisive reduction in the gap between the poor and the well-off in Europe.

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I see poverty as having a woman’s face, and the facts make it apparent to all that there is still much to do to change that situation.

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Women still make up the majority in the groups at risk: the long-term unemployed, the lone parents and the impoverished elderly.

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It is particularly painful and tragic that children are at particularly high risk of poverty in our prosperous society, and let me just say that I was therefore particularly outraged by Mr Buttiglione’s discriminatory remarks about mothers who bring up children on their own.

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That is something we must not put up with nor allow to go unchallenged.

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It is in education that the gender gap becomes glaringly apparent.

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A reading of UNESCO’s figures reveals that the lack of education is one of the key factors forcing women into poverty.

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Another factor in Europe is that we women are employed under insecure conditions; there is also the exceptionally high incidence of violence in these social groups.

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Maternal mortality is on the rise, and the lives of women living in poverty are at particular risk.

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Women are also especially hard hit by the epidemic of HIV and Aids, currently representing the majority of those newly infected worldwide.

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All these aspects we have to take into account and redouble our efforts to deal with them.

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The economic losses resulting from them are enormous, and so, when implementing the Lisbon strategy, and on the points to which the Commissioner referred, we should really press the point home that the key element underpinning the European social model is, in the final analysis, women’s development and support for them, and that we in Europe really do have the most generous resources for further empowering women and thereby making European society more human.

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We on the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality demand that these points be incorporated in future major projects on the European social model, in the Progress programme, in the Structural Funds and in the new employment guidelines.

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The Constitutional Treaty provides us with good instruments for this purpose; let us make it come alive and, by means of gender mainstreaming, give women pride of place in our deliberations.

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Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner Schreyer, we do not have to be told that there is a very great deal of poverty in the world.

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Nor do we have to be told that women are hit harder by poverty than men.

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For many years, we have talked about development, aid and solidarity, but in practice far too little money has been made available.

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We in the rich part of the world have, however, obtained large amounts of money at the expense of poor people far away.

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This applies above all to the EU, to which I am nonetheless thoroughly proud to belong.

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Poverty both within and outside the EU hits women harder than men.

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In and outside Europe, poverty is particularly widespread among women living in the countryside.

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When people can produce their own food, they have made at least a little progress in the fight against poverty.

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How can we in Europe help women in the very poorest countries?

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For me, the answer is simple.

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A large proportion of the world’s farmers are, in actual fact, women, and the EU has a crucial role to play regarding the developing countries’ food supply.

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Our agricultural policy with its subsidies, including export subsidies, is a direct impediment to families in developing countries being able to produce food to sell and being able to export products to our part of the world.

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Through our policy, we are excluding them.

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By subsidising our own producers, we are dumping the prices on their market.

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Our agricultural policy is a disgrace to the EU.

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As you know, the responsibility does not lie with this House.

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It is no secret that Europe’s Heads of State or Government bear responsibility for the fact that approximately half of the EU budget helps make the world’s poor still poorer.

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This reverse aid policy must be brought to an end.

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Yesterday, Commission President-designate Barroso received a rebuff.

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The fact that, here in Parliament, we succeeded in getting our act together and clearly emphasising that we did not accept a Commission based on homophobia and misogyny is a great victory.

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We in Parliament have the opportunity to do much more.

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Hopefully, we shall also be able to do away with the shameful agricultural policy.

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Only then shall we be able to say that the European Union is doing something to combat poverty.

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Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, poverty has a face; we have already seen that it is that of a woman.

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Poverty hits single parents, above all women with children, especially hard.

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Our society may well talk about children being its wealth, but the end result is poverty for the people who have many of them.

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This is indeed scandalous, and I believe that the Commission, in the Lisbon process and elsewhere, must do much more.

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There is a need for more employment for women, and it must be one of the EU’s most especial concerns to do more about childcare, in order to improve the situation as regards education and childcare.

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We know too that older women are particularly affected.

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The removal of discrimination against women in private pension provision represented one small step in the right direction, but, here too, there still remains much more to be done.

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There are far too few indicators at European level to facilitate progress in the battle against poverty among women, and too little account is taken of the issue when making policy.

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The Commission needs to take another great leap forward in order that more account may be taken of women’s issues, of equality for women, in the EU’s policy areas.

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There are too few statistics to really back that up.

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I hope that the Commission will keep to its timetable for the Gender Institute and that there will be no further delays.

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As the Council has emphasised, we need the Gender Institute, not only to collate these statistics, but also, perhaps, to derive conclusions from them.

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Let me finally mention one point that has not been made so far, namely women and the environment.

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We know that the destruction of the environment increases the risk of poverty, particularly in what we call the Third World.

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It follows that sustainable development must continue to be at the top of the list of priorities on the agenda.

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Mr President, as speakers in the debate in this House have pointed out, poverty is increasing within the EU.

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Is that not reason enough for abandoning the neo-liberal economic policy with its Stability and Growth Pact and convergence rules?

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This policy has, of course, proved not to lead to equality or reduced poverty. On the contrary.

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Patriarchal power structures permeate the whole of our society, in both the Member States and, above all, in the European Union.

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Gender equality is definitely not a feature of the EU’s economic policy which is, in large part, designed by and for men.

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Gender equality is a feature neither of economics, politics, education nor health care.

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Nor is poverty characterised by gender equality.

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Women are hit hardest and are most exposed to poverty and to the consequences of living in poverty.

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I have to acknowledge that it is sometimes quite wearying year after year to hear people in power coming out with fine words about, for example, objectives in terms of gender equality and of reduced poverty for women and, at the same time, to know that extremely little is happening in terms of practical action.

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Female poverty is not a law of nature. Nor should it be.

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With the right political and economic decisions, this state of affairs can be changed.

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I also want to ask why the principle of ‘gender mainstreaming’ has still not been implemented.

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Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, following the EU’s enlargement there was a significant rise in the number of people living in poverty.

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Statistics show that of the EU’s 450 million inhabitants, over 65 million suffer from poverty or even live in destitution that is an affront to their human dignity.

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In the countries that recently joined the European Union, the problem has been particularly exacerbated by a drop in production, an increase in the level of unemployment and the economic expansion of rich countries. This is especially true of my homeland, Poland.

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In my opinion, enlargement of the EU cannot be said to be a success if it is occurring at the cost of great suffering, distress and injustice, along with a widening of the gap between the rich and the poor.

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When poverty turns into destitution, it becomes a threat to peace.

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As the Holy Father John Paul II reminds us, ‘if you want peace, reach out to the poor’. Poor countries are not only up against the problem of debt.

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They have to face many other disturbing problems including lack of access to education and health care, mental disorders, depression, suicide, addiction, various diseases, the forced prostitution of women and children and even human trafficking. They also have to deal with the problem of migration and the threat it poses to the stability of the family, or in other words to that of the whole of society.

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Stressful working conditions and the exploitation of workers mean that the future appears ever more uncertain.

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The impact of poverty is felt most by those who live in rural areas, by the unemployed, disabled people and invalids, the majority of whom are children and women.

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These latter should be afforded special protection, as they are responsible for raising the next generation.

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It is women, weighed down not only by housework but also by paid employment, who shoulder the enormous burden imposed by the effects of the transformation process, and this holds true for my country as well.

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Ever-increasing numbers of people in Poland are affected by poverty.

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On a global scale, women carry out two thirds of all work, but are said to receive less than 5% of global income, and own less than 1% of global property.

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Thought should therefore be given to whether the illusory and superficial increase in the percentage of women in governing bodies can compensate for these injustices. It is important to consider whether the Community’s key watchwords of democracy, equal rights and equal opportunities should not be replaced by respect for moral principles and changes to economic mechanisms to guarantee a more equal division of property.

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Concrete measures to provide active help and care for those who need it are probably called for.

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Dealing with the issue in a mature way means adopting an in-depth approach.

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If this is not understood, the material poverty of millions will be as nothing in comparison to the spiritual destitution of the powerful and wealthy of this world.

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– Mr President, despite technical progress, despite social advances of all kinds and despite measures being put in place seeking to extend these benefits to all of the countries of the European Union, too many women are still living in extreme poverty and this phenomenon is even more pronounced in the candidate countries wishing to join the European Union.

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There is even evidence to suggest that poverty is becoming an increasingly feminine problem.

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This poverty is due to obvious social factors and, crucially, to inequalities between girls and boys in terms of access to schooling, university education and professional training.

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Without training, no job and no salary.

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Without a salary, no social security contributions and therefore no medical or social insurance, no unemployment benefit and no pension.

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It follows that poverty increases with illness and, when old age comes, the situation becomes desperate.

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Nevertheless, these women have undeniably made a significant contribution to society throughout their lives by raising their children and doing jobs that are menial, badly paid and, usually, undeclared.

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As you will be aware, this poverty is also the cause of discrimination against women and trafficking in women.

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I therefore believe that it is vital to tackle this evil at its roots, because scattering individual subsidies around will not solve the problem for good and will not eradicate poverty amongst women.

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We must do all we can to ensure that they have equal access to schooling and professional training.

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That is where we need to start in our fight against poverty which particularly affects women.

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Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to add two observations to the question tabled by Mrs Záborská:

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Firstly, a lot of research has shown that women have borne the main part of the burden of transition in the new Member States, both from the psychological point of view and the socio-economic point of view.

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This is also closely linked to the feminisation of poverty.

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Both unemployed and employed women run the risk of poverty.

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As far as employed women are concerned, this applies in particular to the lowest paid professions and is primarily the result of the fact that women’s pay has long been around 25% lower on average than men’s pay.

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This is not an exception but an average that applies to virtually the whole of Europe.

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In the case of unemployed women, it is the elderly in particular who find themselves in the most complex and difficult situations.

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In some countries, time spent raising children has not been taken into account and this particularly applies to single mothers.

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It has also been shown that the opportunity to get out of the poverty trap is reduced where there is little work and long-term unemployment, and that the opportunity is further reduced the longer a person has been unemployed.

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In my home country of Slovakia, according to the latest statistics issued by the Statistics Office and calculated according to Eurostat methods, up to 21% of the population is at risk of poverty or lives below the poverty line.

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My second observation is that one of the most important dimensions in sustainable development is the social dimension, and poverty in particular.

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The feminisation of poverty is not a problem restricted to the new Member States.

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Moreover, it is quite clear that poverty amongst women often results in the social exclusion of children, thereby impacting on the future prospects of the new generation.

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I also support the view that these questions are urgent, including the need to strengthen gender-specific statistics within the framework of building a knowledge-based society.

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I also agree that certain countries, and in particular the governments of certain countries, are attempting to make light of the problem of poverty, as if it were a symptom of personal failure.

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I expect the European Commission to take a more robust policy in this respect too.

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Mr President, Commissioner, the phenomenon of poverty has no gender.

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This is not exclusively a women’s problem, but it does particularly affect women.

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Women earn lower salaries and receive a lower level of social protection.

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They are the last to gain access to permanent work and the first to be laid off.

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Women’s economic dependency places constraints on their freedom.

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As for poor single mothers, how many of them have no means of feeding their children, no roof to shelter them and no government support on which to live with a minimum of dignity?

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These single mothers, whom Mr Buttiglione chose to insult, are real heroines.

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Fortunately, Parliament gave him the response he deserved and I was delighted to hear Mrs Schreyer say that we must respect single mothers.

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I trust that Mr Barroso will also keep this in mind in the future.

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Everything is linked: poverty, disease, illiteracy, lack of academic success, infant and maternal mortality, urban and environmental decay, social discrimination, lack of professional qualifications, unemployment, promiscuity, domestic violence, trafficking in human beings.

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Around 700 000 women and children every year are seized by networks of human traffickers.

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The European Institutions cannot turn a blind eye to this shocking figure.

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It is because of poverty that more children than ever are abandoned, raped, trafficked, beaten up and even murdered by their own parents.

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Everything is linked, such as poverty and death due to backstreet abortion, as we showed recently in this House with regard to the case of the boat belonging to the ‘Women on Waves’ movement.

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We must not forget that those who suffer most from the consequences of criminalising the voluntary termination of pregnancy are women from the poorest sections of society.

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Poor women pay with their health and even with their lives for the monstrous laws that prevent them from gaining access to a safe and hygienic voluntary termination of pregnancy.

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Such is the case in Ireland, Poland and Portugal.

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The fight against the social exclusion of women requires practical measures, as, in fact, laid down in the Lisbon Strategy.

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What is needed is an updated reading of the Lisbon Strategy to include a gender perspective.

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The Europe that we want and deserve must show greater solidarity, fairness and humanity towards women too.

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Mr President, women constitute a good half of the earth’s population.

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Two thirds of all work is done by women, but only a tenth of all income is accrued by women.

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The Beijing Declaration concerning the targets in terms of gender equality, development and peace and an action plan for achieving these targets was unanimously adopted more than ten years ago by 189 countries at the UN Fourth World Conference on Women.The EU Member States were among these countries.

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The gap between words and action is still worryingly large when it comes to women’s rights and, as a result, poverty has been feminised in the world.

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We must put our faith in women in the poor countries and, in that way, also fulfil the UN’s Millennium Declaration, which states that extreme poverty must be halved by 2015.

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There is no simple solution.

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Poverty is solved not through money but through commitment to human rights and sustainable development.

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The award of the Nobel prize to Wangari Maathai is an example of what can be done.

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By guaranteeing women’s rights, land and water are also secured, as well as opportunities for self-provision and local development.

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We must dare to make demands of the surrounding world.

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That is why it is important for women to be accorded full status in aid policy, both as aid providers and as aid receivers.

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I want to know what work the Commissioner is doing in this area.

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To turn the argument around, men constitute almost half the earth’s population.

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A third of all work is done by men, but nine tenths of all income is accrued by men.

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This fact also applies within the European Union, and I do not agree with the Commissioner’s description.

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Wage discrimination is increasing, as is female unemployment.

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Women have worse health, and they are poorer than men within the European Union.

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Now that we are working on the Lisbon process, I wish to know what the Commission is doing to guarantee women’s rights, achieve sustainable economic development and enable women to appropriate the rights accorded to them.

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Mr President, although official figures by gender are hard to come by, subject to severe delays or non-existent, as regards the 70 million people at risk from relative poverty in the European Union of the 25, we all know that poverty and social exclusion affect women in particular, whether it be because they are old and receive the lowest pensions, because they are young or middle-aged and unemployed or have an unstable job that affords them no rights or is badly paid, because they are immigrants or because they are single mothers.

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The situation becomes worse still as the number of people thus affected increases.

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Some figures indicate the seriousness of the situation, which, incidentally, varies considerably from country to country.

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In the EU, for example, over 51% of the approximately 20 million unemployed are women.

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In other words, unemployment, just like poverty, has a female face and seriously affects the women who are victims of multinational companies restructuring and relocating, as happens in my country, Portugal.

345

On the subject of unemployment, the latest Eurostat figures show that across the 25 Member States of the EU, only 38% of permanent posts are held by women, meaning that most work done by women is insecure.

346

Even so, the overall employment rate among women is only 55%, whilst that of men is as high as 71%.

347

348

It is therefore not enough to defend the principle of equality.

349

What is needed is a root-and-branch review of Community policies, with priority given to jobs, social inclusion and the fight against discrimination.

350

This would entail a change in the financial and monetary policies of the European Central Bank and the Stability and Growth Pact, which should be replaced by a development, jobs and social inclusion pact.

351

Similarly, with regard to the Lisbon Strategy, the policy on competition and the internal market must be amended to guarantee access for all to high-quality public services in education, training, health care, social protection, public transport and housing, and to promote social inclusion and economic cohesion.

352

353

354

Mr President, Commissioner, allow me to insist: in a developed part of the world like our own, with a market economy, the best explanation for the feminisation of poverty is the persistence of differing employment standards according to gender.

355

356

If, on average – as has been said – women’s pay is much lower than men's pay, it is essential that we take effective measures to deal directly with the causes of this discrimination.

357

358

It is true – as you have said, Commissioner – that the employment discrimination suffered by many women is a result of their having had fewer opportunities for access to education and training and also, in many cases, difficulties reconciling family life with working life.

359

This unquestionably has an effect on the nature of their jobs and their salaries, but it is equally true that many women directly suffer hidden wage discrimination, either because many of them are employed in the lower paid posts, or because lower salaries are paid to categories largely made up of women or because reducing women’s rights increases the incentive to employ them.

360

It is therefore urgent, Commissioner, that we prevent, detect and also eliminate these types of discrimination in order to achieve true equality of pay.

361

362

I would also like to refer, although very briefly, to increasing female emigration.

363

For years, men have made up the bulk of migratory flows, while women came to our territory solely for reasons of family regrouping.

364

Nevertheless, the model is changing quickly and in recent years more and more women have been emigrating on an individual and direct basis with a view to joining the workforce.

365

366

The high number of lone women immigrants, whose family burdens are not shared with anyone, who undoubtedly face two-fold discrimination on grounds of origin and on grounds of gender, oblige us, Commissioner, to pay much more specific attention to women immigrants.

367

368

Commissioner, putting an end to the increasing feminisation of poverty is an issue we must all be fully committed to, because we must remember that we are talking about justice and well-being for everybody.

369

370

371

– Commissioner, poverty and social exclusion which, proportionately, affect more women than men – 20% compared with 19% of households headed by a man – are the modern form of social impoverishment and of violation of human rights in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

372

373

Unfortunately, no one has yet addressed this issue with efficient and radical reform.

374

A new social map is needed, based on a specific and integrated strategy to combat poverty and social exclusion in all social classes, especially among women.

375

376

At European level, the most basic policy for combating poverty is to determine the minimum guaranteed income, which is something which could start to be applied to the female population on the margins of poverty.

377

Such a policy will ensure that the entire population receives a satisfactory income.

378

The minimum income is the income that needs to be used as a transitional stage, for reintegrating women into employment, and combined with development policies inside and outside the Community, with social insurance and health policies, social welfare policies, housing and child support policies, education and training policies, rural development policies and employment policies.

379

380

Cooperation between all the countries of the European Union, between local and regional authorities, is important and necessary in order to mitigate the new types of poverty among immigrants and the emergence of groups of .

381

382

Commissioner, as you well know, addressing poverty is not the priority of social policies, of Community policies and the Structural Funds.

383

The Member States, like the Community, are strengthening the competitiveness of the European economy, rather than social issues, such as women's issues and poverty.

384

The modern European model, Commissioner, cannot be put to shame by marginalised social classes such as women, with whom impoverishment begins.

385

386

387

Mr President, I thought I would conclude with something to think about.

388

Who cares?

389

390

Who cares that more than a billion people live in poverty in the world today, the large majority of whom are women and girls?

391

Who cares that women are the only providers in a third of households in the world?

392

393

Who cares that women’s sexual and economic subordination operates as an engine for the spread of the HIV and AIDS epidemic?

394

Who cares that 57% of all children who do not receive any basic schooling are girls?

395

Who cares that, every minute, a woman dies from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth?

396

Who cares that almost half of all births in the developing countries take place without a medically qualified person being present?

397

398

Who cares that 80% of all refugees around the world are now women and children?

399

Who cares that women and girls do two thirds of the world’s work for 5% of the income?

400

401

I just wonder when Europe and the world will begin to care seriously about these issues.

402

403

404

. Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for this lively debate.

405

While it would be worthwhile to consider many of the points made, I would like to highlight two of them, one being the connection between the European Budget, agricultural expenditure and poverty – including among women – in the developing world.

406

The statement has been made that something like one half of the Budget would help to further aggravate the poverty of women in the developing world.

407

I cannot allow that assertion to go unchallenged.

408

You made, of course, specific reference to agricultural subsidies, at a time when the Commission, in negotiations within the World Trade Organisation, has made progress in reducing agricultural and export subsidies and opening up greater opportunities to the countries of the developing world.

409

410

Secondly, agricultural expenditure does of course play an essential part in preventing poverty in rural areas and in the agricultural sector.

411

We are all aware of how poverty, rural areas and women are interlinked, and so our European Budget’s programmes for fostering development in rural areas are of immense importance in keeping women out of poverty.

412

413

My next point has to do with the Lisbon strategy.

414

You asked about broad outlines and specific proposals.

415

I would like to remind you that it was the Commission that devoted its efforts to formulating the objective, as part of the Lisbon strategy, of increasing the number of women in employment, and that in a relatively short time.

416

Then it was the Commission, too, that pointed out that it was impossible to simply set an increase in the number of women in employment as a target without giving practical attention to childcare.

417

Without that, the goal of getting more women into work is beyond reach, and, as a woman, I was very happy to learn that the Heads of State and Government, at a summit, had considered the issue of childcare facilities and had come up with a resolution to the effect that childcare needs to be more readily available.

418

The fact is, of course, that you cannot make Europe more competitive without increasing women’s opportunities for employment.

419

420

421

The debate is closed.

422

423

424

The next item is oral question B6-0018/04 by Karl-Heinz Florenz, on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, to the Commission, on the environmental effects of high-intensity active naval sonars.

425

426

427

. Mr President, I am delighted that this is not the last time that we will have the Commissioner with us, as yesterday, in a roundabout way, we extended her contract of employment.

428

429

As I understand it, this is an oral question rather than a speech, and so I will try to keep it very brief.

430

As you know, this question deals with the environmental effects on whales of underwater sonar systems, military and civilian equipment that has quite considerable effects on the auditory system of whales.

431

We have, most regrettably, had indications from experts that whales are dying in vast numbers, something that has not started only recently, but has been going on for some time.

432

433

What we would like the Commission to tell us is whether it has been informed of new studies and whether these have been sufficiently publicised.

434

We would very much like to know whether it is aware that the United States has already dismantled stationary sonar systems of this kind.

435

Is it aware that new technologies capable of performing these functions have been in existence for some time?

436

437

We see here the potential for innovation under the Lisbon strategy.

438

We do not want to scrap any ships, but we do want our friends in the defence sector to continue to be able to travel under water in an orderly fashion, rather than, as is unfortunately the present case, in some confusion and disarray.

439

This is an opportunity for innovation; is the Commission willing to take action in this area even outside the European Union?

440

441

442

. Mr President, Mr Florenz, ladies and gentlemen, the Commission welcomes the opportunity given to it by Parliament to reiterate the importance of maintaining and protecting the marine environment.

443

444

At the plenary session in March of this year, Commissioner Solbes made a statement on behalf of the Commission on the effects of low-frequency active sonar on the marine environment, in which it was pointed out that the EU’s Member States are required by Community law to set up stringent systems for protecting whales in European waters.

445

The Commission did not, however, have at its disposal the information on high-intensity active sonar systems and their potential effects on whales that it would have needed in order to clarify outstanding scientific issues and adopt an unambiguous position.

446

447

For that reason, the Commission asked the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea to examine this complex issue scientifically.

448

This was to provide a basis for the description of measures that might prove necessary in the future in order to avoid disturbing whales and in order to guarantee adherence to the provisions of the Habitat Directive.

449

450

The scientific study has since been set in motion, and the draft conclusions are expected at the beginning of 2005.

451

The Commission will make the results of this study available to Parliament and to the public.

452

We will consult the Member States, through the Habitat Committee, on the best possible options for protecting whales from sonar systems and other forms of noise pollution, and in these discussions all interested parties will be involved.

453

454

Although the Commission is aware of the potential environmental effects of military activities, the fact that the EU possesses no competence in this area means that the Community cannot take any action to regulate the development of new defence technologies.

455

If, in future, we become more involved in the field of defence research, this will of course have a major part to play.

456

Let me reiterate that the study was commissioned in September 2003 and is expected to be available by the end of this year.

457

As the study needs to collate all the available knowledge on the subject, it is a complex task, and, as it has to do with the military sector, this has often not been easy.

458

459

We therefore ask you to note that the completion of the study will require some considerable time.

460

I do hope, though – as I have said on behalf of my fellow Commissioners – that the results will be available at the beginning of the coming year and will then provide a sound basis for action.

461

462

463

Mr President, firstly I would like to say thank you for allowing us the opportunity to remind everyone once again just how important this subject is, and of the many effects that high-intensity sonars have on our environment, and especially on marine fauna.

464

We have already brought up the issue of whales twice, and we will do so again in the future, until we make clear progress in this matter.

465

I wish to thank Commissioner Schreyer for her reply, which inspires hope.

466

It is important that the Commission should do all it can within the limits of its powers.

467

468

Two years ago, I personally collected the names for the first oral question, and it has to be said that research material on the subject has substantially increased in volume in the intervening period.

469

Precise information on the effects of high-intensity sonars has been obtained from many reliable sources, including data published by 18 European researchers in the issue of Nature magazine dated 9 October 2003, which shows that high-intensity sonars pose a significant threat to marine mammals in particular, but also to fish and other marine fauna.

470

There has been a considerable increase in the body of evidence showing a link between the death in large numbers of marine mammals and high-intensity sonars.

471

472

A year ago, in October, researchers and our parliamentary delegation went to NATO headquarters to submit two petitions asking the member countries of NATO to restrict the use of LFAS systems until their environmental impact and link to recent whale deaths had been fully investigated.

473

At that time, the petition had been signed by more than 85 000 people and 68 environmental organisations in Europe, the United States and Canada.

474

475

While we agree that it is a totally legitimate exercise to try and develop this defence system, and to monitor submarines that use new technology, it is especially important to take the vulnerability of our environment into consideration.

476

From the point of view of sustainable development, we should aim to develop alternative technologies which protect nature while at the same time achieving the objectives set for them.

477

In military technology, as well as other fields, it is worth reminding ourselves of the ecological price we have to pay for the technology we choose to employ.

478

With high-intensity sonars, the price is too high.

479

480

481

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the devastating effects of global warming, noise and chemical pollution, overfishing and shipping accidents are dramatically degrading our oceans and, inevitably, the populations of cetaceans living there.

482

483

We now have valid and sufficient scientific evidence demonstrating that high-intensity active naval sonars can be lethal for whales, dolphins and fish.

484

All cetaceans are extremely dependent on hearing for their survival, and many species have an acute sense of hearing and use sound not only to locate their prey but also for navigation and communication, often over long distances.

485

486

Noise pollution caused by sonar equipment thus not only causes physiological damage but also interferes with the natural behaviour of the animals and with normal communication.

487

It drowns out calls and disorientates the animals, scaring them away from their usual habitats, where they feed and reproduce.

488

489

Last year we adopted a resolution on the protection and conservation of the marine environment.

490

This Parliament voted unanimously for the application of consistent, coordinated measures to halt the decline of biodiversity by 2010 and to promote the sustainable use of the seas, protecting and conserving marine ecosystems.

491

I would not wish to remind you, Mr President, that these were political objectives to which we gave a binding commitment at the last world summit on sustainable development.

492

493

I believe, therefore, that it is our duty to adopt provisions designed to preserve the marine world which surrounds us, and so I call on the Commission to abide by the deadlines which it announced in this Chamber for making the move from studies to concrete proposals.

494

495

496

Mr President, high-intensity naval sonar is a form of under-water radar system used mainly for the detection of submarines.

497

Instead of the electromagnetic energy waves used by surface radar, it employs acoustic energy waves with which it scans the water of the oceans.

498

These acoustic waves are, in simple terms, very loud noises which travel over many hundreds of kilometres and, in the areas used, completely fill every cubic inch of ocean water without any geographical limitation.

499

Sometimes they are so loud that they can even be heard outside the water by people standing at nearby shores.

500

501

It is not surprising that such high-energy noise bombardment causes severe disruption to marine life.

502

This disruption is especially extensive to animals that by nature have very sensitive acoustic capabilities, such as whales and dolphins.

503

What a whale hears and feels when sonar is used is the equivalent of what we would hear and feel if four jumbo jet engines were operating at full blast in this room.

504

The scientific evidence gathered mainly from necropsies on stranded whales is becoming increasingly stronger and more enlightening and it is convincing to most scientists, and it certainly satisfies our precautionary principle.

505

506

Apart from direct injury to internal organs such as the inner ear apparatus, the sonar waves cause the animals to panic and in terror to move uncontrollably and haphazardly, trying desperately to escape from the painful and disorientating sonar noise.

507

In so doing, they may rise very quickly from deep waters, thus suffering a form of fatal decompression sickness and/or they may be stranded on nearby beaches where they meet their demise.

508

509

It should be noted that for every animal stranded, many hundreds more are killed or severely injured but we never get to know about them because they never reach the shores.

510

It should also be noted that dying from the effects of sonar injury is an extremely painful, agonising and slow form of death.

511

512

It is imperative that the motion for a resolution which has been submitted by the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety calling for the restriction of the use of these sonars be passed urgently and unchanged in substance.

513

The amendment proposing the restriction of the use of sonars in geographically non-sensitive marine habitats, if accepted, will severely weaken this resolution and render it largely ineffective.

514

515

516

Mr President, I am delighted we are having this debate, as it is a crucial environmental issue, which is already of great concern to many people.

517

518

These new, much more powerful sonars – one of the loudest sound systems ever devised – have sparked an epidemic of strandings, internal bleeding, deafness and lung damage wherever they have been tested.

519

A single blast of the new technology can affect animals across 3.8 million km2 of water.

520

That is why it is simply not good enough that the Commission responded to a written question of mine last November, simply saying that this type of technology needs to be used with caution.

521

This type of technology be used with caution because of the huge impact it has.

522

At one hundred miles away from the source of the sound, the noise can still cause shearing of the tissues in the air sack behind whales' and dolphins brains.

523

524

I listened with great interest to the Commissioner's introduction, and I heard a lot about more research but nothing about calling for a moratorium.

525

In July, the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission unanimously issued a strong statement of concern about intense underwater noise, citing what calls compelling evidence that entire populations of whales and other marine mammals are potentially threatened by it.

526

So do not tell us that we need more research before we call for a moratorium – we do not: there is plenty of evidence that we need to act.

527

528

I would strongly urge Members to vote against the amendment tabled by the PPE Group, which seeks to weaken the resolution by calling upon Member States to adopt geographic restrictions in sensitive marine habitats.

529

There is simply no scientific justification for this amendment.

530

531

Mrs Korhola gave a very nice speech – it is a pity she has now left the Chamber – but she did not explain why she has put her name to this very same amendment, which would gut and weaken the very resolution which she claims to support.

532

Given that a single blast of this low-frequency technology can affect animals across 3.8 million km2 of water and that little is known about their migratory patterns, geographic restrictions are not appropriate.

533

They will not work.

534

I urge colleagues to reject that amendment.

535

536

537

Mr President, naturally, our group too supports this resolution and the demand for a moratorium on using this technique.

538

We now have overwhelming proof that the technique is dangerous.

539

For example, a number of links have been shown to exist between military exercises in which this technique is used and the high incidence of stranded whales.

540

541

As mentioned earlier in this debate, there is only one amendment to this excellent resolution.

542

It comes from the other side of this House and was tabled by the Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats.

543

They wish to attenuate what is one of the absolutely key points by restricting the demand that this technique should not be used so that it only applies to certain geographical areas.

544

That is something that would seriously damage the document.

545

It is also a practical impossibility, since we are concerned here with species that travel over huge areas of sea and that cannot be confined to certain areas.

546

We are also concerned with sound waves that, in themselves, can travel for hundreds of kilometres.

547

We shall vote in favour of the resolution and against the amendment.

548

549

550

In European policy, the precautionary principle has been an important guiding principle for years and before long, we will be discussing in this House extensive legislation, based on that principle, on chemical substances.

551

In environmental policy too, we are trying to prevent new technical developments from damaging flora and fauna.

552

553

As for the new sonars that are currently under discussion, I can be brief.

554

We see cases of stranded sea mammals whose hearing has been damaged.

555

Those animals are stranded in areas where ships sail that are equipped with a new kind of extra loud sonar.

556

These factors, combined, lead us to believe that those sonars cause damage to sea mammals.

557

I take the view that we should apply the precautionary principle in this instance too and should therefore temporarily ban the use of those types of sonar in European waters until such time as it has been proven that there is some other cause or – if the damage is indeed caused by these sonar devices – until a final ban is imposed.

558

With regard to the amendment tabled by the Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats, I understand that restrictions can be imposed on protected areas, but it seems wise to me to retain the current text of the resolution in order to send the strongest possible signal to the Council and the Commission.

559

560

561

Mr President, I represent the south-west of England, where in recent years an increasing number of dead dolphins have been washed ashore.

562

In 2002 and 2003, over 300 dolphins and porpoises were washed ashore and their carcasses could be seen on beaches.

563

564

Because of recent research published in magazine in October, attention has focused on naval sonars.

565

However, the absolute priority for groups concerned with such sea mammal deaths in the south-west of England and many other parts of the country is to put a stop to indiscriminate pair trawling in the English Channel as soon as possible.

566

We are impatiently awaiting EU action on this.

567

My constituents simply cannot understand why action has not already been taken on the basis of the precautionary principle, which the Commission so often cites in support of its initiatives.

568

569

We want more research to be carried out on the effect of naval sonars.

570

I note that the Verts/ALE Group is moving an amendment saying that it wants a moratorium because it has been proved that naval sonars are dangerous.

571

That is not actually true.

572

The research published in says: 'The incidence of such cases of dead mammals during a naval sonar exercise indicates that acoustic factors be important.' magazine says that further investigation is needed.

573

574

We know that we have to be realistic.

575

Green MEPs support the idea of an immediate restriction or ban on such sonars, but the British Navy, and no doubt others with less accessible websites, are about to conduct trials on a new low-frequency, high-intensity sonar S2087 from Type 23 frigates.

576

The Ministry of Defence admits that there is an acoustic effect that might damage sea mammals.

577

For that reason, it will introduce mitigating and monitoring measures to protect marine mammals.

578

For example, we would prefer to see avoidance of the use of sonar in marine breeding grounds adopted as part of a common EU strategy.

579

580

Blocking the use of such sonars in any EU waters would deprive those who defend us of a useful early-warning tool that we might well need in a dangerous world.

581

It is a difficult balance, but we believe that our amendment to the text delivers the best possible solution.

582

If it is not adopted many of us will, with great regret, have to abstain or vote against this motion.

583

584

585

Mr President, this is the second debate we have held this year in Parliament on the issue of ziphii.

586

During the previous debate, Commissioner Solbes announced to us that this study would be carried out, and I am pleased that Commissioner Schreyer has confirmed what Commissioner Solbes said and that the study will be finished before the end of the year.

587

588

At the moment, the scientific evidence is clear.

589

The University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has carried out very detailed studies on the subject and it is clear that the low-frequency sonar used in naval military manoeuvres does harm to animals.

590

591

What we need to do now, as Mr Sacconi has already said, is to move on from the study stage to concrete proposals.

592

It falls to the Commission to present proposals to the Member States, concrete proposals, and I hope that those proposals will be on the table when we next hold the debate in Parliament.

593

594

I will therefore end by calling on the Commission to present these proposals very soon, that is to say, immediately after it receives those studies, so that, next year, Parliament can study them and recommend to the Member States what decisions should be taken, without any excessive delay.

595

596

597

Mr President, it must be made very clear that it is impossible to limit the effects of sonar on a geographical basis.

598

I do not know what the PPE-DE Group wants to do: perhaps they should give out ear protectors to the dolphins and whales.

599

600

A number of ziphii have died this summer in the Canary Islands, clearly due to the effects of sonar.

601

The Verts/ALE Group has been condemning this for a long time.

602

The Spanish Government and the Ministry of Defence have acknowledged the problem and the Canary Islands Government recently accepted that this type of harm is related to the use of medium-frequency active sonars.

603

604

Last April, the Government and the Ministry of Defence signed a cooperation agreement to prevent the mass beaching of ziphii which is taking place in the Canary Islands area.

605

This agreement is very significant, since it shows concern and demonstrates that ziphii are affected by sonar.

606

607

What we find completely unacceptable is the amendment presented by the Group of the European Peoples’ Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats with a view to restricting the use of high-intensity naval radar/sonar only in areas defined as sensitive marine habitats, something which is absolutely impossible.

608

We call on the House to reject this amendment.

609

610

611

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, let me say at the outset that I find it very regrettable that this House has not made use of one of the options available to us.

612

It is a fact that the European Parliament is not just responsible for the protection of the environment, but also for security and defence matters, on the latter of which we have set up a sub-committee.

613

I believe that any resolution adopted by us would carry much more weight if it took full account of these aspects.

614

615

I would say that it is extraordinarily important that we should find a solution, and that whales and dolphins have to be protected.

616

About this, I believe there is broad agreement in this House as a whole, but there is, on the other hand, the question of what is the best course of action.

617

I do not know whether it is realistic to call for a moratorium, for the continued use of these devices to some extent will continue to be necessary for security and other reasons.

618

For that reason, I believe it would be more realistic to seek first a suitable geographical limit and come to an agreement that these devices should no longer be used in places where whales and dolphins have died in particularly large numbers.

619

For that reason, I very much commend the amendment tabled by the Group of the European People’s Party.

620

621

There is yet another aspect to this, in that a preparatory programme for safety research is currently under discussion – it features in the Budget debates, Commissioner Schreyer – and it is to be introduced and funded by the European Union.

622

As I see it, the issue of substitutes for sonars, or that of other methods for protecting whales, should be dealt with under the heading of this programme.

623

624

625

Mr President, we clearly have a very serious problem with marine life and possible links with naval sonar.

626

I therefore welcome the thrust of the resolution and the need to do something.

627

However, I cannot accept the idea of a moratorium.

628

There are security issues, as we have heard today.

629

We need time to develop alternative technologies.

630

631

I welcome what you said, Madam Commissioner.

632

We should wait for the expert study and then see what action can be taken in January.

633

In the meantime, we have to keep monitoring this serious issue, about which many citizens are concerned.

634

635

636

. Let me just briefly observe that the Commission supports this undertaking to stop the loss of biodiversity by 2010.

637

The second thing I want to say is that, if the Commission is to make effective recommendations, it needs sound scientific results, and that is why the study is so very important.

638

It will soon be available, and it goes without saying that you will have the results and proposals.

639

640

My third point is that I will bring this resolution to the attention of my successor as the Commissioner responsible for safety research, as I believe it to be very important to make full use of the options available to us in this area of research.

641

642

643

I would like to inform the House that I have received the motion for a resolution(1).

644

645

The debate is closed.

646

647

The vote will take place at 11.30 a.m.

648

649

650

651

The next item is the vote on the

652

653

654

655

Mr President, before we begin the vote, I would like to say that we have travelled a long way in the Committee on Budgets.

656

I would like to thank all the members of all the political groups for their valuable cooperation, remind you that we have dealt with more than 760 amendments in the Committee on Budgets and express our particular thanks to our chairman, Mr Lewandowski, who, having recently arrived in this Parliament and in the Committee on Budgets, has done an excellent job of coordination.

657

658

Mr President, as is the case every year, in a budgetary exercise of this scale we always have to make certain technical corrections.

659

I shall read out the technical corrections.

660

661

Amendment No 592, in line 18 03 05, has been withdrawn.

662

Amendment No 65, in line 04 02 12, is accepted with an increase of EUR 1 million.

663

Amendment No 66, in line 04 12 15, is accepted with an increase of EUR 1 million.

664

Amendment No 67, in line 04 03 03 01, is accepted with an increase of a further EUR 1 million.

665

Amendment No 69, in line 04 03 03 03, is accepted with a sum of EUR 600 000.

666

667

Amendment No 599, in line 18 06 04 02, is accepted with an increase of EUR 2 million, rather than EUR 1 million.

668

An additional sum of EUR 1 million should be added to line 16 05 01 in addition to the result of the separate vote on this line.

669

The comments on Amendment No 137 should be included.

670

671

There has been a request for a separate vote for Amendment No 354, in line 18 03 04, which will be considered withdrawn if the technical corrections I mentioned earlier are adopted.

672

This amendment will therefore be covered by the vote on block of Amendments No 4.

673

674

Mr President, I propose that we proceed to the vote on these technical corrections.

675

676

677

Mr President, my Group disagrees with this voting arrangement.

678

We would like to state things in the most clear and transparent way, and therefore, in accordance with the Rules, we request a roll–call vote.

679

We are aware that this may prolong voting time, so I would add that the IND/DEM Group does not intend to block the majority view in the House.

680

We just want to make it clear to the citizens of our Member States.

681

If you refuse our request for a roll–call vote, we will not insist this time.

682

683

684

Thank you for not insisting on a vote by roll call, which would undoubtedly delay our work considerably.

685

You have made your position very clear and it will be recorded in the Minutes.

686

We shall therefore proceed to the vote on these technical amendments.

687

688

689

. Mr President, I thought we were going to vote for this amendment when the time came, in the corresponding line.

690

But if you are asking me for a voting recommendation now, I recommend that we vote on it straight away and in favour.

691

692

693

694

. Mr President, in connection with the vote on the other institutions, I have to say that there is an equalisation amendment, Amendment No 436, that has been tabled so that the expenditure might be balanced in the light of other amendments to Parliament’s Budget.

695

The figures in Budget item 209, which constitute the provisional amount for covering the institution’s property investments, will therefore be adjusted so that they reflect the result of the vote we have today.

696

If Parliament decides to follow my recommendations to amend the overall level of Parliament’s Budget – Amendment No 370 – which would reduce the Budget by EUR 40 million, the amount of budget item 209, which is the amount of the institution’s property investments, will be adjusted accordingly.

697

698

699

700

. Mr President, in brief, in line 04 03 03 02, we have Amendments Nos 495, 68 and 343.

701

If Amendments Nos 68 and 343 are approved, I will propose an oral amendment which I will read in a moment if you like, because I need to change the text we will have approved in the comments.

702

703

I am going to read it now so that we have a clear idea of what we will approve in the event that these amendments are accepted.

704

705

This is the wording of the oral amendment I propose: ‘Part of this appropriation shall be used to fund the organisations mentioned in the amendment in accordance with the provisions of the financial regulation.

706

707

708

709

710

Mr President, before proceeding to the vote on the next block, I must point out that the vote on Amendment No 68 has turned out to be different from what we had recommended in the Committee on Budgets and, in the absence of confirmation of the figures, we have a problem, a margin of EUR 1.5 million.

711

We have exceeded the margin for Category 3.

712

713

The figures will have to be verified and then we will see whether we can make some adjustment for the second reading.

714

But I must point out that, as things stand at the moment, we have exceeded the margin for this category.

715

716

717

718

. It is a comment on the line, Mr President, and does not, therefore, require a qualified majority.

719

720

721

In accordance with the information we have received from the services of the House, we shall apply a qualified majority, because that is what the amendment requires since it affects the whole of the line.

722

723

724

Mr President, we may initially have voted on an amount, but, even if the amount was not adopted, we can still vote on the comment.

725

That then has nothing to do with the amount, and so what Mr Garriga Polledo has said applies.

726

727

728

. Mr President, if the services of the House tell you in this case that the whole of the amendment should be voted on by qualified majority, then the services of the House must take responsibility for the vote.

729

I would have preferred this part – as a comment – not to have been voted on by qualified majority, but by simple majority.

730

731

732

If you are in agreement – since this issue perhaps requires rather more consideration – we shall postpone the vote on this issue until the end and in that way we will be able to reflect and the services of the House can consider it in more detail.

733

734

735

Mr President, in that case, the second part of Amendment No 210 was also a comment and it seems to me that that also had a majority at that time.

736

737

738

739

. Yes, Mr President, returning to the irritating issue of our exceeding the margin for Category 3, it seems that we have finally identified that we have exceeded the margin for Category 3 by a sum of EUR 580 000.

740

I would therefore request a meeting with the coordinators so that they may give me a mandate to reduce this EUR 580 000 in some line and thereby prevent the margin from being exceeded.

741

742

This is what I propose: a mandate to allow me to cut EUR 580 000 from one of the lines on which we have voted for amendments.

743

744

745

Your request is very reasonable.

746

It is better to remove this small sum than to find ourselves in a situation which may cause difficulties.

747

If nobody objects, therefore, you may adjust the sum together with the coordinators.

748

749

750

751

752

Mr President, now that we have voted on the figures, I have a small amendment to the text on which we are to vote, namely to paragraph 20 in which the amounts are to be amended on the basis of the result of the vote concerning Euroscola.

753

The following is to be added to paragraph 20:

754

755

756

'Has to decided to enter EUR 500 000 against item 2727, Organisation and reception of groups of visitors, Euroscola programme and invitations to opinion multipliers from third countries.'

757

758

759

Over and above this addition to paragraph 20, paragraph 18 is to be deleted from the text.

760

These are the changes that result from our vote on the figures.

761

762

763

– Well, since this is in fact simply a statement bringing the text technically into line with the figures that we have just adopted, I am sure that the House can support the rapporteur’s proposal.

764

765

Are there any objections?

766

767

768

. I would like to use my brief remarks to draw your attention, and the attention of the public, to the hearings procedure that took place before the current voting and proved to be a success not only for the Committee on Budgetary Control (COCOBU), of which I am chairman, but also for the entire European Parliament.

769

The hearings procedure, the importance of which I do not believe I need to emphasise in the light of yesterday’s events, may also serve as a positive example to the Council and the Commission.

770

771

What do I mean by this?

772

773

In the Treaty of Accession, the ten new Member States were granted the right to delegate one member each to, among other bodies, the European Court of Auditors.

774

COCOBU held hearings for each of the candidates and delivered a favourable opinion on the appointment of eight candidates and a negative opinion in the case of two.

775

776

One of these countries, Cyprus, withdrew its candidate because of the negative result of the relevant hearing and delegated Mr Kikis Kazamias instead.

777

778

In the light of his Curriculum Vitae and the answers provided in the questionnaire and public hearing, our committee recommended the appointment of Mr Kazamias with 26 votes for and one against and expressed hope for the prospects of cooperation with the new candidate.

779

780

The Council unfortunately ignored Parliament’s negative vote and approved the other, Slovakian, candidate.

781

The Committee on Budgetary Control has therefore decided to request a written report from the Council by 15 December 2004 as to why it ignored Parliament’s recommendation.

782

783

Members of the European Court of Auditors must have the trust of Parliament.

784

Mr Kazamias had the trust of the Committee on Budgetary Control, and I am therefore asking you to accept the report we have presented to you.

785

786

787

788

– I will therefore put Amendment No 3 to the vote as an addition which has the support of the rapporteur.

789

790

(1)

791

792

(2)

793

794

795

796

.I would like to declare that I voted in favour of budget heading 04 04 09 which supports the costs of the Platform of European Social NGOs, because of the important role played by associations in the voluntary sector in Europe.

797

I regret the fact, however, that the heading for pilot projects in the field of disability, which I supported, was not adopted.

798

799

800

The June List rejects Parliament’s draft Budget for 2005, whereby the EU’s commitments would increase to 1.24% of the EU countries’ anticipated gross domestic income.

801

We believe that the commitments for 2005 should definitely not exceed the Commission’s proposal of 1.14%.

802

Even though the payments still do not exceed 1% of gross domestic income, these will gradually increase to the level of the commitments in the Budget for 2005.

803

This forms the basis for the long-term financial framework.

804

It is therefore important to come down to a lower level by no later than 2005.

805

The target should be to come down below the expenditure ceiling of 1% of gross domestic income.

806

807

Below is a selection of proposed cutbacks:

808

809

- We believe that the EU should begin cutting back on agricultural subsidies by no later than 2005.

810

811

- The subsidy for European political parties should be completely abolished.

812

813

- The subsidy for tobacco cultivation should be abolished.

814

It should be up to the individual countries to ensure that the farmers affected successfully switch to other forms of production.

815

816

- The subsidy for information efforts can be reduced because we believe it to be difficult, politically, to provide objective information prior to referendums on the Constitution.

817

We believe it to be the responsibility of the individual countries and of the political parties in these countries to provide this information.

818

The EU should avoid interfering in the democratic process in the Member States.

819

820

821

822

823

The Dutch members of the Independence and Democracy Group have voted against the European Budget for the year 2005, as amended by the European Parliament.

824

Despite our favourable assessment of certain forms of European policy – in the areas of the environment, agriculture and the internal market, for example – we are of the opinion that, in the Budget amended by Parliament, far too much money has been allocated to matters which, according to the subsidiarity principle, should not fall within the European Union’s remit.

825

Areas that spring to mind are employment policy, foreign and defence policy, tourism, education, culture and sport.

826

In addition, under the heading of ‘information policy’, a great deal of money has been set aside for promotional activities for a so-called European Constitution, to which we are avowedly opposed.

827

828

Finally, we do not agree with the practice of borrowing as much as possible, to the very limit, instead of endeavouring to take an economical, restrained and responsible approach to taxpayers’ money.

829

830

831

The Moderate delegation has today abstained from voting in the final vote on the resolution.

832

The resolution contains much that we consider laudable but, because we voted against quite a few of the proposed increases in expenditure in the vote on the figures in the Budget, it was impossible for us to support the resolution’s conclusions.

833

834

We cannot support the general attempt to increase the Budget expenditure to the levels proposed by the Commission.

835

Nor can we support the sweeping statements concerning more aid for agriculture, structural funds and information actions.

836

837

838

. I voted in favour of the report by Mr Garriga Polledo (A6-0021/2004) on the draft general budget for 2005 (Section III), with amendments, because I agree with the main thrust of the evaluations and proposals contained therein, particularly where it states that ‘Budget 2005 shall reflect the following political priorities and objectives: Lisbon Strategy: given the desire for the EU budget to become an effective means of fostering economic growth, sustainable development and job creation; JHA: need for a European response to new challenges in connection with cooperation in immigration, asylum and migration, and terrorism and security matters; information policy: need to increase budgetary outlay in response to the low turnout at the last European elections, the forthcoming enlargements of the EU and the debate on a constitution for Europe; Cohesion policy: Budget 2005 must also continue to contribute to the cohesion as well as to the strengthening of the external role of the Union’.

839

840

I also welcome, however, the criticism that ‘some Member States have not been able to use rural development funds… (and where the report) calls on the Commission to analyse carefully proposals that might be able to overcome such situations’.

841

842

843

. We are appalled that the level of the draft Budget for 2005 is set below 1% of the Community’s Gross National Income (GNI), when the ceiling for own resources set for 2000-2006 is 1.24% of the GNI (1.27% of the GNP).

844

This is clearly inadequate for the serious aims of economic and social cohesion of a European Union.

845

846

We therefore condemn the Council’s strategy of setting the tone for the debate on the Financial Perspectives for 2007-2013 by setting a draft Budget at less than 1% of Community GNI, which is clearly in line with the ‘Letter of the Six’ and which offers a response to the constraints of the Stability and Growth Pact.

847

848

849

850

We regret that Parliament, despite institutional skirmishes, is aligned with this strategy; we regret that the main priorities are a mythical and mystifying Lisbon Strategy, terrorism and information policy; we regret that the priorities are drawing ever closer to the objectives of a so-called ‘European Constitution’ that has not been ratified and to a proposal for a political and financial framework that has not been approved, whilst money made available through the Community budget ought to enable the EU to meet essential and strategic aims that have been ratified and approved, such as improving people’s living standards, promoting economic and social cohesion, sustainable development and jobs, and promoting external cooperation partnerships with the least developed countries.

851

852

853

. In this first draft general budget of the European Union (or Preliminary Draft Budget – PDB) for 2005, some broad themes can already be seen.

854

Without prejudice to any future corrections, it is possible to conclude that what runs through the whole of this budget is major concern for institutional reform (increase in appropriations for expenditure in respect of staff in active employment; increase in administrative expenditure; increase in expenditure on financial control).

855

It is a pity that the Council’s draft budget for the financial year 2005 is, in total, equal to 1% of the Gross National Income (GNI) of the 25 EU Member States, maintaining the pressure – publicly defended by various Member States – to lower the 1.24% ceiling.

856

Such a move would hold back the recent accession of ten new Member States and, indeed, attempts to advance institutional Europe.

857

858

I endorse the admirable concern in this budget for institutional operational capability as regards various policies, although I feel that we remain a long way from achieving our true ambition of sustainability, prosperity and integration, an ambition that the citizens hold dear.

859

860

861

862

. The process of drawing up EU budgets has in the past demonstrated a discrepancy between the Community’s political priorities and the funding earmarked for them, and this has led to a certain degree of opacity.

863

864

Under pressure from Parliament, the Commission adopted a new activity-based management approach (ABM).

865

866

It is a good, simple idea.

867

868

The first task is to identify activities to be developed, in accordance with political priorities. These activities will subsequently influence the human resources and finances to be allocated.

869

870

It would appear that adopting this method will make it easier to carry out a thorough assessment of the consequences of particular policies and actions.

871

872

In spite of the efforts that have already been made, I am compelled to note the poor quality of the activity statements and their lack of usefulness to the budgetary process.

873

They fall well short of the desired level.

874

Information is dispersed, not quantified and often lacking in practical detail.

875

Most of the targets and their respective indicators are not measurable, and their implications for human and financial resources are scarcely explained.

876

877

The key aim of the exercise has not been achieved.

878

Given that anything that is not measured cannot be managed, there is still no clear link between the objectives and targets, on the one hand, and the indicators chosen to gauge the degree to which those objectives have been met, on the other.

879

880

As far as this issue is concerned, there is therefore a long way to go.

881

882

883

As the person responsible for the budget for development cooperation, I have obtained a hearing for a clearer focus upon poverty.

884

The appropriation for Asia, where most poor people live, has increased by EUR 37 million over the previous year.

885

The appropriations for efforts to combat HIV and malaria are increasing.

886

Furthermore, a new budget item of EUR 10 million is being established for vaccinations against children’s diseases etc.

887

888

Moreover, I have voted in accordance with the following principles:

889

890

(1) The common agricultural principle needs to be reformed.

891

892

- Export subsidies should be phased out as quickly as possible because of their serious consequences for the developing countries.

893

894

- Aid for tobacco cultivation should be phased out, since it runs directly counter to a proactive health policy.

895

896

- Aid for the transport of live cattle should be phased out.

897

898

(2) Environmental policy should be better integrated into other policy areas.

899

That applies especially to agricultural and regional policy.

900

901

(3) Savings should be made in a number of areas.

902

For example, the Member States should bear the primary responsibility for the social dialogue.

903

904

(4) People need to be given better information about European policy.

905

That applies especially to the debate on the EU’s future and on a new Constitution.

906

907

(5) Last but not least, a reduction in the EU’s Budget ceiling must not be the result of enlargement and of new initiatives within the foreign policy area, for example in Afghanistan and Iraq, or of work on global environmental issues, the HIV epidemic etc.

908

909

910

911

. I voted in favour of the report by Mrs Jensen (A6-0020/2004) – draft general budget 2005 (other sections) – along with amendments that strike me as more useful, because I feel that, in fact, the Community institutions are provided with the funding that they require for developing their activities, particularly given the requirements of the enlargement process, the major impact of which will be felt in the financial year 2006.

912

913

I should like to add one note of caution.

914

I believe that it is the institutions’ duty to manage public money – taxpayers’ money – carefully and sensibly.

915

916

917

918

The 2005 budget will be the first to cover the 25 Member States for a full year and the last before the next Financial Perspectives are presented.

919

It is therefore important to promote the fast and effective integration of the new Member States in all fields.

920

921

I regret the fact that some funding has been cut and that there is little ambition in this financial year, particularly at a time of plummeting public confidence in the ability of Community and national institutions to deliver wealth and well-being, at a time of dwindling expectations of economic upturn and at a time of increasing outcry over the mirage of the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy.

922

923

As I have written on many occasions, the Europe of which the founding countries dreamed – and the Europe to which our citizens aspire – is a Europe of peace and prosperity, the key feature of which is that we share both values and interests; an internal market that genuinely fosters prosperity; an ambitious Europe geared towards people’s well-being, and not some all-powerful, distant or self-sufficient super-structure.

924

925

I expect much more from the Financial Perspectives for 2007-2013.

926

927

928

929

We do not believe that the EU should grant economic resources to Bosnia and Herzegovina to ease the transition to market economies.

930

Our view is that the EU should have limited competence and that this is not an issue for the EU.

931

We are not opposed to economic aid to other countries, but believe that this type of decision should be made at national level or within the framework of the UN.

932

We particularly question why the EU should support a reform of the financial sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

933

934

935

. I voted in favour of the report on additional macrofinancial aid to Bosnia Herzegovina, because I believe that in order to press ahead with its moves towards economic stabilisation and reform, Bosnia Herzegovina still needs further financial aid from the Community and from other bilateral and multilateral donors.

936

937

Bosnia Herzegovina is committed to moving forward along the road to economic stabilisation reforms.

938

I feel that the EU must press ahead with its objective to assist in supporting the balance of payments, to help to reduce the country’s external financial constraints, to offset the effects of reforms already carried out and to lay the foundations for joint institutions and policies, pursuant to the Dayton peace agreement.

939

940

941

. The terrible civil war on Bosnian territory has left marks that are still in evidence today.

942

Nevertheless, the country is enjoying a degree of social peace and institutional normality, something that the EU should be encouraging and supporting.

943

944

Given that the implementation of political reforms in Bosnia Herzegovina took longer than was provided for by Council Decision 2002/883/EC, I believe that the process must be applied to this case as a matter of urgency.

945

This Decision must, indeed, be amended so that, extending its period of validity, the third instalment of additional macrofinancial aid can be paid to the country, thereby strengthening the economic sustainability and institutional reforms underway.

946

947

I voted in favour.

948

949

950

951

We do not believe that the EU should grant economic resources to Serbia and Montenegro to ease the transition to market economies.

952

Our view is that the EU should have limited competence and that this is not an issue for the EU.

953

We are not opposed to economic aid to other countries, but believe that this type of decision should be made at national level or within the framework of the UN.

954

We particularly question why the EU should support the privatisation of banks in Serbia and Montenegro.

955

956

957

. I voted in favour of the report by Mr Barón Crespo on additional macrofinancial aid to Serbia and Montenegro.

958

959

I feel that following the political changes that took place at the end of 2000 in Serbia and Montenegro (SCG, formerly the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia), the authorities in the country have achieved notable success in terms of economic and stabilisation reforms.

960

It is crucial that the EU continue to support all moves towards peace and stability in the region.

961

These countries have achieved good results in terms of stability and Commission missions in the area have noted positive developments.

962

963

Macroeconomic stability has been achieved and sustained, and important structural reforms have been set in motion.

964

Progress has been made in privatising socially-owned companies, which has taken place on the basis of auctions and tenders, and the restructuring of the industrial and financial sectors has got underway.

965

The programme of economic reforms has received additional support through Community macrofinancial packages, which have been awarded on the basis of compliance with agreed conditions on economic and structural policy.

966

967

968

. Economic, social and political stability in Serbia is a key factor in the progress towards peaceful and normal relations between the Balkan countries, which are now looking to the EU as a source of support and hope.

969

970

It should be pointed out that Serbia has suffered acutely from instability arising from the aftermath of war and from the reduction in the area that it covers.

971

972

The situation was made significantly worse by the barbaric murder of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic in March last year, which inevitably held back the reforms that had until then been moving at a promising pace and that the new government has been seeking to resume.

973

974

975

The delays that have taken place have prevented the third instalment of the additional aid from being awarded according to the timetable set out in Directive 2002/882/EC.

976

Consequently, a fresh deadline must be set as a matter of urgency, one that enables this payment to be made effectively and beneficially, thereby helping to ensure that the balance of payments can be sustained and that the reserves can be bolstered in Serbia and Montenegro.

977

978

I voted in favour.

979

980

981

982

. I voted in favour of the report by Mr Fazakas (A6-0015/2004) on the nomination of a Member of the Court of Auditors, because I welcome Mr Kazamias’s nomination for this important EU body, because of his track record and because of his answers to the questions put to him by the Commission.

983

984

985

986

. I voted in favour of the motion for a resolution as regards transmissible spongiform encephalopathies and animal nutrition.

987

I feel that Parliament must remain alert to all public health issues and must carefully consider all decisions made by Parliament and the Council aimed at Member States banning the feeding of processed animal proteins to farmed animals that were kept, fattened or bred for the production of food.

988

The Commission’s proposals must, therefore, be reassessed and Parliament’s strong doubts that sufficient experienced laboratory staff are available within the Member States of the European Union must be given serious consideration.

989

990

991

992

I naturally welcome this initiative on the part of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety in an area as tricky as spongiform encephalopathies, particularly given that this issue has become public knowledge and as such it has had an enormous impact on the European public in recent years, with people becoming alarmed and making radical changes to their diet.

993

In view of the technical complexity of this issue and the doubts that are still being raised among the scientific community, we have an obligation to be on maximum alert.

994

This motion for a resolution puts this obligation into practice and is, indeed, a further illustration of our citizens’ real interests and concerns, namely the highest possible level of public health protection.

995

The climate of mistrust among the public, which is legitimate and deep-rooted, is a further reason why we must demand the strictest checks and conditions for placing different animal feed solutions on the market.

996

997

I therefore voted in favour.

998

999

1000

1001

. I welcome this timely decision to upgrade the EU-India relationship to a Strategic Partnership.

1002

A vote for this report is a vote for practical steps towards mutual respect and an open dialogue on all matters, including those that need work.

1003

1004

I welcome the concrete steps this report includes to:

1005

1006

1. continue to promote a strong trade relationship and work with India to better understand the global economy and, more specifically, to understand the benefits for both economies with regard to outsourcing and insourcing-related matters.

1007

1008

2. pay close attention to the India-Pakistan dialogue, including the Kashmir issue; welcoming the dialogue and hoping for a fruitful conclusion; and paying attention to the need to develop and secure mutual trust and confidence between these two major countries,

1009

1010

3. maintain and improve co-operation in development policies to help India meet the Millennium Development Goals.

1011

1012

1013

1014

India is a large, federal, parliamentary democracy embracing different languages and cultures.

1015

Because of this, India is considered by some as a kind of EU for South Asia and also as a buffer against the mistrusted Islamic world.

1016

Part of this Parliament therefore wants to bring about an alliance and close, mutually beneficial economic cooperation, without further attention being paid to the major problems that remain unresolved as regards human rights and the threat of war.

1017

Indian society is still – contrary to current legislation – divided into castes, with some 150 million people being outcastes and thus considered by others as untouchables.

1018

Mainly in rural areas, they remain condemned to the dirtiest and worst paid jobs.

1019

Previous governments, based on Hindu nationalism, abandoned efforts to combat discrimination against them.

1020

They have also failed to resolve the issue of Kashmir, where the majority of the population is Muslim and has seen itself as under occupation for over half a century.

1021

Nor have other minorities seen their problems resolved.

1022

I denounce the emphasis that the EU is currently placing on commercial interests at the expense of peaceful coexistence and human rights.

1023

International solidarity with the disadvantaged and their organisations in India will remain a major priority in the years to come.

1024

1025

1026

. I voted in favour of the report by Mr Menéndez del Valle on EU-India relations.

1027

1028

I feel that the EU’s relations with India are crucial, due to that country’s geo-strategic importance and its potential role in a multilateral world order.

1029

Given India’s status as the world’s largest multicultural democracy, and because it shares with the EU Member States the core defining common values of free and fair elections, respect for the rule of law, independence of the judiciary and respect for minorities, the two partners are in a position to strengthen relations still further.

1030

1031

In view of the significance of India with its diversity of religions, ethnicities and languages, and its importance in the dialogue among civilisations, I believe that the decision to upgrade EU-India relations to Strategic Partnership level is a key element in EU external relations.

1032

1033

The promotion of an effective multilateral approach requires practical steps that provide strong support for closer ties between the EU and India.

1034

1035

Mutual respect and partnership are best expressed in open dialogue on all matters including those on which there are divergent views.

1036

1037

1038

. India has enormous geo-strategic importance in the world.

1039

The world’s largest democracy is the driving force of the sub-continent in which it is situated and, with its human and cultural wealth, it is of major interest to a European Union that seeks to be more open to the world.

1040

1041

History has conferred on some Member States, such as Portugal, privileged ties and relations with India.

1042

I believe that this could be to everyone’s advantage, and clearly justifies the EU’s support for maintaining and strengthening those ties and relations.

1043

Indeed, I am convinced that, by strengthening and re-establishing the ties of the past, and by making the most of our mutual affection and of common languages and cultures, we will be able to derive the maximum benefit from the relationship between the peoples of Europe and the people of India.

1044

1045

In this regard, I welcome both the establishment of an EU-India Centre for Indian Studies, and the fostering of European cultural initiatives in India, with particular emphasis on projects aimed at reviving and reinventing a joint past.

1046

1047

I wish to point out the high skill level of many Indian workers and therefore feel that we should promote exchanges and the sharing of experiences at technical, academic and professional levels.

1048

1049

I voted in favour of the proposal for a recommendation before us, although I wish to make it clear that upgraded EU-India relations must neither replace nor dilute existing bilateral relations with the Member States; rather, they should complement them.

1050

1051

1052

1053

1054

There are, in Belarus, two sharply divergent conceptions of what the country is.

1055

One third of the population sees itself as a border territory on Russia west, sharing with it a language, culture and religion.

1056

Being on the connection routes with the EU countries, they regard their area as more important than other parts of Russia.

1057

They see their current President, Lukashenko, as guaranteeing stability and minimum living conditions amidst the confusion of their neighbouring countries.

1058

Another third of the population sees Belarus as a state with its own language and culture, a buffer state between Poland and Russia, and as capable of joining the EU.

1059

Supporters of this approach are meeting with the utmost opposition from the present regime, which sabotages organisations, newspapers, protests, minority religions, education in their own language and opposition parties’ election campaigns in every way it can, and those who fall victim to this see their country as a dictatorship.

1060

Between those two opinions, there is another group without any strong views, which offers no resistance.

1061

Lukashenko wants to remain in power and, alongside Putin, play an important role in a Greater Russia.

1062

As it is only by oppressing others that he can do this, it is justified that plans, developed in Poland and Lithuania, for radio programmes and education, organised from abroad, in Belarussian should receive support from the whole of the EU.

1063

1064

1065

. I voted in favour of the motion for a resolution on the results of the referendum and the parliamentary elections in Belarus.

1066

By voting in favour, I wish to express that I share the concern of those who feel that the situation in the country is extremely serious as regards the violation of human rights, and that I share the international community’s view that the recent ‘elections and referendum’ that took place there were neither free nor fair.

1067

It is our duty to condemn electoral fraud and to speak out against all those who seek to prevent the citizens from exercising their right to freedom.

1068

1069

The situation in Belarus, a neighbouring country of the EU, is extremely serious.

1070

The EU must therefore pay very close attention to it and be in a position to take the steps needed, as in other similar cases, to support democratic endeavours, such as giving young people in Belarus the chance to study in EU countries.

1071

1072

1073

. I am appalled by the climate of coercion and repression prevailing in Belarus, where freedom and democracy are being violated on a daily basis.

1074

It is disgraceful that a country can institutionalise arbitrary and monolithic power, in flagrant violation of pluralism and civil rights.

1075

The violence meted out to members of the democratic opposition, the repression of the right to demonstrate, not to mention the way in which the electoral process took place, illustrate that there is still a great deal to do to defend human rights on our continent.

1076

1077

Indeed, given that the minimum requirements of freedom and justice that should govern the process were not met, it is more than justified to raise suspicions as to the validity of elections and the plebiscite – officially called a referendum – that took place there.

1078

1079

President Lukashenko’s desire to remain in power and his scant regard for the fundamental laws of Belarus and for the rights of his citizens are worthy of attention and firm action on the part of the EU, which, by various ways and means, must help towards fully establishing the rule of democratic law in the country.

1080

1081

I voted in favour.

1082

1083

1084

1085

– Mr President, I abstained from the vote on the joint resolution on Ukraine.

1086

I am sure that democracy in Ukraine is not functioning in accordance with our standards; there are accusations of abuse of power, although I believe that in such a case, in the case of a new democracy, such phenomena will exist.

1087

We even make such accusations in our own countries in the European Union.

1088

These are phenomena which trouble us and they arise in countries which are potential candidates, such as Turkey.

1089

Human rights are, unfortunately, trampled underfoot even in our partner countries.

1090

However, we are on the eve of the elections due to be held there and the resolution contains accusations which I personally have not yet cross-checked, however hard I have tried to obtain information on the matter.

1091

I believe the resolution goes too far; it may even be seen as interference in the internal affairs of a country.

1092

I reserve the right to formulate a personal opinion following my trip to Ukraine. For the moment, I shall abstain.

1093

1094

1095

– I believe that in Ukraine, a country which only recently acquired freedom, institutions and democracy cannot function by our standards.

1096

1097

Moreover, democracy is a difficult matter; we even see signs of abuse of power in our own countries, in Member States of the EU, and in potential candidate countries we see human rights being trampled underfoot, as in other partner countries.

1098

1099

1100

1101

I have reservations about the accusations being levelled at Ukraine, because I have no clear information about the situation and I consider this to be a particularly sensitive time, in that we are at the end of the pre-election period, on the eve of the ballot, and I fear that this resolution, as it stands, might perhaps be seen as interference in the internal affairs of a country and, more importantly, as influencing public opinion.

1102

1103

I shall be visiting Ukraine over the next few days and I reserve the right to refrain from expressing an opinion at this moment in time by abstaining from the vote.

1104

1105

For the time being, I wish them calm and fair elections and a responsible, democratic government, which will bring prosperity to the people and creative relations with the EU.

1106

1107

1108

. I voted in favour of the motion for a resolution on the forthcoming elections in Ukraine.

1109

I feel that with this important election in Ukraine approaching, where a democratic process remains little more than a hope, we must keep a very close eye on how the process develops, we must vehemently condemn any attempts to block progress towards genuine democracy, we must condemn in the strongest terms the violations of basic rights that have already taken place and must hope that an outcome derived from free and democratic elections brings the Ukraine closer to the EU.

1110

1111

1112

. A neighbouring country with the geo-strategic importance of Ukraine is worthy of our special attention, due to the fact that there is actually a substantial Ukrainian community in various EU Member States, including Portugal.

1113

1114

Recently, during the presidential election campaign, certain events have given rise to fears of a backward step on the road towards stabilising a country that claims to operate under the rule of democratic law.

1115

The attempts at controlling the media, such as the closure of Channel 5, and various restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, are worrying signs of this, and we must condemn them.

1116

1117

Ukraine will not progress towards full participatory democracy by restricting the most basic civil rights.

1118

It must first meet high standards and adopt practices that are consistent with respect for the individual, for pluralism and for freedom.

1119

Freedom and justice must be seen to be present not only in the forthcoming elections but, more importantly, in all of the country’s political activities.

1120

1121

The EU can play an important role in this transitional phase of Ukrainian political life, by advising and supporting the positive measures that Ukraine has actually taken, and by strongly condemning practices that bring back memories of the old Communist totalitarian blueprint.

1122

1123

I voted in favour.

1124

1125

1126

1127

. I wish to record my support for this motion and opposition to the amendment which proposes to restrict the use of high-intensity active naval sonar only in areas geographically limited defined as 'sensitive marine habitats'.

1128

1129

Whales and other cetaceans are migratory animals which need to be protected throughout their range with no geographical restriction.

1130

1131

High-intensity sounds such as those produced by active naval sonars have the potential to cause harmful physical damage to marine life, ranging from temporary hearing loss to permanent damage and even death.

1132

1133

There is an urgent need for a European and global legislative framework for monitoring the effects of underwater noise and regulating the input of underwater noise into the marine environment.

1134

The unregulated proliferation of harmful man-made noise in the oceans and seas poses potential threats to marine life and ecosystems.

1135

1136

1137

We have voted in favour of paragraphs 1 and 2 because the use of high-intensity naval sonars is a cross-border issue.

1138

Cooperation within the framework of the EU is therefore justified.

1139

1140

We have voted against Amendment No 1 for two reasons.

1141

Firstly, it is difficult to define in which areas sensitive marine species exist.

1142

Secondly, the sounds associated with high-intensity naval sonars extend over large areas.

1143

1144

We have abstained from voting on the resolution as a whole, partly because we are critical of Amendment No 1 and partly because we question whether the Commission is the right body to carry out a study of what effect high-intensity naval sonars have on the marine environment.

1145

1146

1147

. Our vote on this resolution is justified by the position clearly expressed therein on the future of relations between the EU and Belarus.

1148

1149

The proposals put forward are characterised by clear interference, such as the adoption of ‘a range of practical sanctions against Belarus’, support for ‘broadcasting radio information programmes’ and for ‘cities that oppose the regime’.

1150

1151

These proposals are all the more unacceptable given that, once again, double standards have been applied in assessing events in third countries; the logic of ‘double standards’ means one rule for ‘friends’ and another for the ‘others’.

1152

1153

No measures of this kind have ever been adopted or implemented against a country that is engaged in the military occupation of an EU Member State, a country that does not comply with international law, contravenes UN resolutions, imprisons thousands of political prisoners and denies a people its ancestral cultural rights.

1154

1155

No measures of this kind have ever been adopted or implemented against a country engaged in the military occupation of another country and, on a daily basis, brutally denies an entire people the most basic human rights, blatantly contravenes numerous UN resolutions, builds a wall beyond its borders and keeps a president in a military compound for more than three years.

1156

1157

1158

. I voted in favour of the motion for a resolution on naval sonars.

1159

Concerns are increasing among the public and the scientific community after a series of documented mass mortalities of cetaceans associated with the use of high-intensity mid-frequency active sonars in coastal environments, and I believe that thorough-going research must be undertaken into why these events happened.

1160

The Commission must promote studies into the potential impact on the marine environment of installing active high-intensity naval sonars and to provide an assessment – based on information provided by Member States – on the effects of such practices in EU waters.

1161

International agreements, which have yet to be drawn up, aimed at regulating noise levels in the world’s oceans, may prove to be a key measure in regulating and limiting the adverse impact of anthropogenic sonars on marine mammals and fish.

1162

1163

1164

. I share Mr Florenz’s concerns as regards the harmful environmental effects of high-intensity naval sonars.

1165

1166

As mentioned by Mr Florenz in his question to the Commission, recognised experts in the field have, indeed, expressed serious concerns, particularly at the fact the sonars in question can kill cetaceans such as whales and dolphins, a view confirmed in a study published by Spanish and British experts.

1167

1168

In view of the fact that conserving, protecting and improving the environment, including the conservation of natural habitats of wild fauna and flora, are fundamental objectives of general Community interest, and that, in tandem with economic, social, cultural and regional demands, environmental protection contributes towards the overall objective of sustainable development, I feel that the Commission must take action in this area.

1169

1170

1171

Accordingly, I wish to reiterate the concerns that have been mentioned and the request that the Commission adopt measures, specifically the implementation of Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna.

1172

1173

1174

– There are no further explanations of vote.

1175

That therefore concludes voting time.

1176

1177

1178

1179

1180

The next item is the debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law – Duration: one hour maximum (Rule 50 of the EP Rules of Procedure)

1181

1182

1183

The next item is the debate on the following six motions for resolutions presented by:

1184

1185

- Miguel Angel Martínez Martínez, Pasqualina Napoletano and Margrietus J. van den Berg, on behalf of the PSE Group, on cluster munitions (B6-0108/2004);

1186

1187

- Marie-Hélène Aubert, Angelika Beer, Bernat Joan i Marí, Joost Lagendijk, Raül Romeva i Rueda and Frithjof Schmidt, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, on cluster munitions (B6-0111/2004);

1188

1189

- Jelko Kacin and Johan Van Hecke, on behalf of the ALDE Group, on cluster munitions (B6-0112/2004);

1190

1191

- Vittorio Emanuele Agnoletto, André Brie, Luisa Morgantini and Tobias Pflüger, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on cluster munitions and anti-vehicle mines (B6-0120/2004);

1192

1193

- Geoffrey Van Orden, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, on explosive remnants of war and anti-personnel landmines (B6-0123/2004);

1194

1195

- Cristiana Muscardini, on behalf of the UEN Group, on explosive remnants of war and anti-personnel landmines (B6-0125/2004).

1196

1197

1198

Mr President, the Socialist Group, to which I belong, urges that the production of, and trade in, cluster bombs be frozen until such time as the problems surrounding these weapons have been solved.

1199

Personally, I would prefer to see a ban on cluster bombs, but the cluster munitions coalition, which comprises a reasonably large group of NGOs and probably has a realistic idea of the state of play with regard to negotiations about a protocol at international level, has argued in favour of a temporary moratorium because that appears to be the most likely course of action.

1200

In the final analysis, as we have seen over the past few days, that is what politics is about, namely the threat to create a real power base by means of a majority.

1201

Needless to say, if this is to succeed –and here we can count on the broad support of this Parliament – it does require commitment on the part of the Council, the Commission and the Member States.

1202

We need a new protocol that addresses all the humanitarian problems associated with cluster munitions, such as have once again been raised quite specifically during a hearing of the Committee on Development.

1203

We have seen how a good deal of those munitions end up in precisely the world’s poorest countries, from Afghanistan to the Falkland Islands, and also closer to home, in Serbia and Montenegro.

1204

To this day, 78 countries have some 400 million anti-personnel mines and anti-vehicle mines in stock, which demonstrates that a vast quantity is still available even in our Fifteen Member States; indeed, they are still being manufactured in ten of them.

1205

It is obvious that international agreements are the only means left of tackling this.

1206

We need a protocol, so tough and intensive negotiations are required, and this is where Europe can speak with one voice.

1207

Speaking with one voice is something of which we are very much in favour.

1208

The Red Cross and the UN are on our side.

1209

Actually, this is where I would like to ask the Members belonging to the Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats to take a step closer to us.

1210

I cannot imagine that we do not have any common ground here; we may well not have any where Mr Buttiglione is concerned, but on cluster bombs we should be able to see eye to eye.

1211

1212

1213

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, cluster bombs are weapons of a particularly insidious kind.

1214

When launched, a bomb of this kind can disintegrate into anything up to 8 000 bomblets, which then lie spread across areas of up to 240 000 square metres – about 50 football pitches – and work in much the same way as land mines, threatening civilians, children and women just as much as military personnel.

1215

This is clearly in breach of Article 51 of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Convention.

1216

1217

For that reason, 18 months ago, on 10 February 2003, the European Parliament called for a moratorium on the manufacture and use of such cluster munitions and cluster bombs, and for them to be banned outright in the long term.

1218

This makes it a political scandal that these weapons are still being produced in the European Union – in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and Belgium.

1219

So what we are doing is adopting a pious resolution to the effect that this sort of thing is a violation of human rights and has to stop, and then we go on producing the things.

1220

At national level, our governments are doing nothing about this.

1221

That is hypocrisy, and that is why it is absolutely necessary that this House should again make its voice heard in opposition to the production of such weapons in the European Union and against the trade in them.

1222

1223

It is perverse thinking for the Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats to acknowledge, in item 1 of their resolution, the devastating effects of these weapons, and then, in item 3, to express understanding for the military use of them, on the grounds that the armed forces would otherwise deploy even worse weaponry.

1224

I think the ethical stance of the Christian members of the conservative group must make such a position untenable, so I call upon them to withdraw this item from their resolution; it really does undermine the case.

1225

1226

1227

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to speak for two minutes in support of an important cause.

1228

This cause is essential, I believe, in promoting a culture that can help to prevent and resolve the problems that man brings upon himself in an endless succession of suffering, injuries and deaths, which all too often affect the civilian population and which are caused by the laying of landmines in many countries.

1229

Mines are deadly weapons of war that we must oppose at all costs, since they are directed against the civilian population, remain active indefinitely and often make it impossible to implement effective mine-clearing operations.

1230

1231

We know that the international community has taken action on these issues.

1232

Non-governmental organisations have mounted a major campaign, backed by a collection of signatures, and have launched a spontaneous movement which has led the governments of many countries to sign the Ottawa Treaty. This is a major international treaty which has banned anti-personnel mines.

1233

1234

Today we must move on from that treaty, we must encourage a swell of opinion and then, I hope, action by governments who can draw up further conventions, legal instruments and protocols with a view to banning other types of mine.

1235

I am referring to cluster munitions, extremely deadly mines whose devastating effect is many times greater than that of anti-personnel mines.

1236

1237

Anyone who has had the chance to see the exhibits on display in some museum of horror, if I can use that turn of phrase, cannot help but feel indignation and a strong impulse to take action on this issue.

1238

We have recently been to Slovenia, and were able to see in a museum the effects of this kind of mine.

1239

1240

We saw photos, pictures of fields, pictures of wounded people.

1241

We met people who bear in their flesh the effects of these weapons, which the international community must ban.

1242

They are not traditional tools of war, precisely because they are not confined to the battlefields and will strike civilian populations, women and children. They strike the children who play in the fields, the women who go into the cultivated fields to gather their food, where instead they encounter death.

1243

1244

I hope that this Parliament will undertake to broaden the existing convention to include this other type of deadly weapon.

1245

1246

1247

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, today war is becoming a way of governing the world.

1248

A fervent appeal to the rules of international law is the way to find refuge from barbarity and the law of the jungle.

1249

1250

The appeal contained in the joint resolution, which we will vote on today, brings in this line of defence and calls for a moratorium as well as an undertaking to abolish the use, production, storage and exporting of cluster munitions.

1251

These munitions pose a danger to the civilian population.

1252

Women, children, the old, men, whom I have seen with lacerated flesh and amputated limbs – in Kabul, in Kandahar, in Pristina – in the clinics where they are trying to save what can be saved.

1253

This is barbarity, since these mines are used by our democratic countries.

1254

1255

US aircraft dropped thousands of cluster bombs on Afghanistan and Iraq.

1256

On the outskirts of Kabul I saw those yellow objects that attract children and are the same colour as food rations, which always used to arrive in the villages from the sky.

1257

1258

There are at least 57 countries holding stocks of cluster munitions, 22 of which are in Europe.

1259

There is no doubt that this is in breach of international law.

1260

We have to ensure that the safeguarding of human rights prevails over military interests: the right to life for millions of people.

1261

This is a goal which we have to set ourselves.

1262

For the European Parliament this has to be a commitment, as was the case for the ratification of the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty, thanks to the unceasing work of thousands of people in non-governmental organisations.

1263

1264

In Europe, we still have to convince Poland, Finland and Latvia to sign up to it.

1265

We must also negotiate a new protocol to the convention on conventional weapons and, at the conference to review the Ottawa Treaty, encourage a consensus among states to ban anti-tank mines with sensitive fuses, which explode on human contact.

1266

A resolution is not enough; we cannot stop there, and that is why we have also asked for permanent monitoring by the European Parliament.

1267

1268

1269

Mr President, many people – including some Members of this House, such as my colleague Mr Van Orden – have worked for a long time on the humanitarian issue of overcoming the harmful effects of anti-personnel landmines.

1270

Our armed forces have fully supported this work.

1271

Their judgment, which we share, is that cluster munitions and anti-tank mines should not be regarded in the same way as anti-personnel landmines.

1272

At this time, our armed forces need to retain the unique capabilities of these weapons in their armouries.

1273

Indeed, military authorities estimate that if cluster munitions were banned, disproportionately powerful munitions would be required to achieve the same effect.

1274

Such weapons might pose a greater risk to civilians during conflict and would increase the levels of devastation caused.

1275

1276

In regard to the post-conflict effects of cluster munitions and anti-tank mines, much progress has been made in Geneva on dealing with the explosive remnants of war.

1277

Work continues to improve the technical aspects of certain weapons so that they do not continue to be a threat to local civilians after a conflict has ended.

1278

These initiatives are spearheaded by a group of governmental experts who are mindful of the need for the right balance between humanitarian concerns and military utility.

1279

1280

Regarding certain weapons, it is well understood that the armed forces of our nations, and those of NATO allies, are the most conscious of the need to protect our civilian populations, avoid collateral damage and ensure that dangers to our own troops are minimised.

1281

1282

The motion before this House, tabled by the Left, fails to take into account such considerations and is factually incorrect.

1283

Its provisions are unrealistic and, consequently, it would not be helpful in tackling the problems caused by explosive remnants of war.

1284

1285

On a positive note, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Commission and the Member States on the support they have provided for global mine action against anti-personnel landmines, mine clearance and assistance to victims.

1286

I would encourage them to focus their efforts to end this threat to civilian populations from the explosive remnants of war and anti-personnel landmines by 2010 at the latest, and not be sidetracked by other issues.

1287

1288

I urge Members to support the resolution.

1289

1290

1291

Mr President, the reason why my group has not signed this motion is that it takes the view that this complex matter should be dealt with in a report from a sub-committee, for which provision exists, rather than in an urgent debate, which is not appropriate.

1292

We have in fact decided that our members will have a free vote, and I am very definitely among those who intend to support this resolution when it comes to be voted on.

1293

1294

I thought it interesting that Mr van den Berg should mention the name of Buttiglione.

1295

Mr Buttiglione and I were among those Christian Democrats who were forthrightly critical of the Iraq war, and of the use of cluster munitions in it, from the very outset, and so I find it regrettable that Mr Buttiglione’s presence in the Commission has been thought undesirable.

1296

He would be a very good ally to have on this issue.

1297

1298

The second point I want to make is that Mr Schmidt appealed to our Christian convictions.

1299

This he has said – and let me say this loud and clear – at the end of a week when we in this House have been told time and time again that policy must not be influenced by religious convictions.

1300

I disagree with that, and my Christian convictions lead me to believe that everything possible must indeed be done to deal not only with anti-personnel mines of every kind, but also with cluster munitions, which really do present an extreme danger to the civilian population, and particularly to children.

1301

Let us not, however, apply double standards.

1302

People’s Christian convictions can lead them to adopt quite divergent political positions, but they should in any case respect each other’s.

1303

I personally take the view – as I believe does the majority in my group – that we should implement this moratorium, which makes sense and is necessary, and I can only say that we should very definitely make an issue of the use of cluster munitions in Chechnya, as Russia is a member state of the Council of Europe, which sits here in Strasbourg.

1304

Although Chechnya, if one regards it – as many do, although I do not – as part of Russia, can therefore be said to be Council of Europe territory and thus subject to the Convention on Human Rights, cluster munitions are deployed directly against the civilian population.

1305

The same, though, is true of Iraq, just as it was true of the Balkans.

1306

As we cannot be narrow-minded about this, let me say that I very much support this resolution.

1307

1308

1309

Mr President, the limited speaking time available to us makes it impossible to discuss the issue in depth.

1310

I would therefore prefer to express my support for the text of the resolution – which takes up the majority of our suggestions – and express my full agreement with what my colleague, Mr van den Berg, has said, and I will not mention the Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats asking us to vote one way or another, since I believe our positions identify who we are and I believe that, on issues such as this, it is very good that we can see exactly who everybody is so that public opinion and the organisations can differentiate between us.

1311

1312

I would like to add two comments.

1313

Firstly, I would like to draw attention to the fact that, unlike antipersonnel mines, the manufacture of cluster bombs requires very complex technology, a technology which is only within reach of the highly industrialised countries, and that means the responsibilities of the Member States of the Union are under scrutiny.

1314

1315

Furthermore, however, a very sophisticated air or land infrastructure is essential in order to launch these bombs, as well as specific knowledge for the military personnel capable of firing them.

1316

And some of our countries clearly have a role here as well, both in terms of logistical preparation and in the training of military personnel.

1317

1318

In the hearing we held – which was magnificent – I was disappointed that we found it rather difficult to name those countries of the world, whether European or not, who are producing the weapons we are condemning here.

1319

I would also have thought it relevant to name those countries and their corresponding responsibilities in our resolution.

1320

And that leads me to my second comment, which is to insist that the European Parliament must commit itself to sparing no effort to ensure that what we approve today does not remain mere words.

1321

1322

There are concrete proposals suggested to us by the organisations, who must continue to be our permanent interlocutor in this fight.

1323

For example, we are very interested in the idea of designating a rapporteur to monitor, on behalf of the European Parliament, what is being done in our countries and internationally with regard to eliminating cluster bombs.

1324

1325

1326

Mr President, the first time I gave any serious attention to cluster bombs was in 1999, when NATO was waging a war of aggression on Yugoslavia, in which cluster bombs were deployed.

1327

In Germany, this war was supported by all the political groupings apart from the PDS, particularly by the Social Democrats and the Greens, and the consequences are still tangible.

1328

It is reported that between 30 000 and 50 000 stray cluster bombs are still to this day contaminating whole tracts of land in Kosovo.

1329

1330

We have to speak plainly here: most of the firms making profits from cluster bombs are European, the German firm of Rheinmetall being one example.

1331

It is evident that large-scale bombardments with cluster bombs are regarded as part of waging war.

1332

The Americans and the British used 13 000 such projectiles in their war on Iraq, and so the only right response is an outright ban on cluster bombs.

1333

If we are to have that, we must be outspoken in our criticism of the weapons industry and of the armed forces that use these weapons.

1334

1335

1336

Mr President, although there is as yet no agreement banning cluster bombs – as opposed to anti-personnel mines – there is growing awareness of the need for global action to deal with them.

1337

I believe that our resolution today helps to foster such awareness and to precipitate such action.

1338

1339

This text criticises the continuing and frequent deployment of cluster munitions in armed conflict.

1340

Not only does it claim victims while hostilities are in progress, but also for years afterwards, a problem underlined in Human Rights Watch’s report on the conduct of the Iraq war and its civilian victims, which was published at the end of 2003.

1341

1342

In it, we read that the use of large quantities of cluster munitions, particularly by American and British ground troops, claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians.

1343

I do not believe that much is to be gained by affirmations of a desire to make such weaponry safer and to produce it in such a way that its effects on the civilian population are less devastating.

1344

It follows that this House’s call for an immediate moratorium on the production and use of cluster bombs is extraordinarily important.

1345

1346

1347

Mr President, the Commission shares your concern about the humanitarian, economic and social problems posed by the presence of a whole series of unexploded ordnance, such as cluster munitions, which are left behind after conflicts.

1348

We are also concerned about the particular difficulties involved in clearing areas contaminated by this specific type of active munitions.

1349

As you are aware, the European Union has always been an ardent supporter of the Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War to the United Nations Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons.

1350

We now need all of the Member States to ratify this protocol so that it can enter into force as soon as possible, which, as you know, is not yet the case.

1351

1352

As far as the Commission is concerned, we are doing our best to solve the problems posed by cluster munitions by working in two main areas.

1353

The first that I will mention is mine clearance operations.

1354

These operations, like our initiatives to raise awareness of the risks and help victims, are carried out by virtue of Community instruments, in particular the Parliament and the Council regulation on anti-personnel landmines, and in practice often involve the removal of other unexploded ordnance.

1355

This is what we are doing in Laos, Cambodia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, to mention just a few countries.

1356

These efforts are clearly far from adequate.

1357

Although this debate gives me the opportunity, on behalf of the Commission, to thank Parliament for its unstinting support for the regulation on anti-personnel landmines, I must nevertheless remind you that the budget for mine clearance and hiring experts in this field is not enough to tackle the problems posed by all of the explosives that still need to be made safe, including cluster munitions and anti-vehicle mines.

1358

From the point of view of the Commission, the priority remains achieving the objectives set out in the Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines, with its deadline of 2010.

1359

1360

The second aspect of our work has just been launched: it is to implement the pilot project on small arms and explosive remnants of war.

1361

Here too, I should like to thank Parliament for making it possible for the Commission to examine closely all of the issues and problems associated with both the explosive remnants of war and the dissemination of small arms.

1362

This pilot project should enable the Commission to propose measures that will give the Union a level of expertise, knowledge and authority in the field of small arms and the explosive remnants of war that is comparable with what it has acquired thanks to the regulation on anti-personnel mines.

1363

1364

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, you have heard the Commission’s reaction.

1365

We will collaborate with all of the stakeholders to guarantee that an integrated and comprehensive humanitarian approach is adopted to all of the problems posed by what we by convention call the remnants of war, but which it would perhaps be more appropriate to call the trash of war.

1366

1367

1368

Thank you very much, Commissioner.

1369

1370

The debate is closed.

1371

1372

The vote will take place following the debates.

1373

1374

1375

The next item is the debate on the following six motions for resolutions presented by:

1376

1377

- Véronique De Keyser and Pasqualina Napoletano, on behalf of the PSE Group, on Iran (B6-0107/2004);

1378

1379

- Cecilia Malmström, on behalf of the ALDE Group, on Iran (B6-0113/2004);

1380

1381

- Angelika Beer, Daniel Marc Cohn-Bendit, Véronique De Keyser, Hélène Flautre, Monica Frassoni and Joost Lagendijk, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, on breaches of human rights in Iran (B6-0116/2004);

1382

1383

- Michael Gahler and Bernd Posselt, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, on Iran (B6-0118/2004);

1384

1385

- André Brie, Giusto Catania, Umberto Guidoni, Tobias Pflüger and Eva-Britt Svensson, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on the situation in Iran (B6-0121/2004);

1386

1387

- Cristiana Muscardini, on behalf of the UEN Group, on Iran (B6 0124/2004).

1388

1389

1390

– Mr President, the health of a nation is measured using various different indicators: the rights of women, the freedom of expression of its press, the democratic nature of its political institutions and the strength of its civil society.

1391

1392

We in Europe regard Iran as a great country.

1393

Its deeply rooted culture – and I would even go so far as to say at times its genius – is reflected in its art, its literature and in the strident voice of its civil society.

1394

It is a great country that Europe respects.

1395

1396

Today, on the basis of these indicators, Iran is in poor health.

1397

A year ago, a few of us visited Iran and hoped, at election time, that the reformers that had been struck off the list of candidates would be reinstated.

1398

We were cruelly disappointed.

1399

Today, many of us hope that the women of Iran will regain the freedom to wear what they want, the freedom to laugh, the freedom to listen to music and the freedom to hold an opinion and, for example, to hold office as judges.

1400

But this is almost a detail.

1401

1402

Today we are concerned – and this urgent motion for a resolution proves it – for three reasons.

1403

Today, minors are being sentenced to death in Iran and one, Ateqeh Rajabi, aged 16, has been hanged.

1404

Freedom of expression of the press or on the Internet no longer exists.

1405

The motion includes the names of journalists who have been arrested, among them Omid Memarian, whom I had personally invited to visit the European Parliament in November.

1406

Stonings continue to take place despite the moratorium on stoning which I am still waiting to evolve into real legislation, and the dialogue between the European Union and Iran on human rights has not yet advanced beyond words.

1407

1408

Out of respect for this great country, I would like this situation to change.

1409

For the last two days, since tabling this motion, I have been inundated with letters from the Iranian Embassy saying, ‘No, your sources are not reliable, none of this is happening’.

1410

Iran should prove that, ‘none of this is happening’ and thus remain a partner which, in terms of both human rights and politics, we in the European Union can continue to value.

1411

1412

1413

Mr President, worrying reports are again coming out of Iran, in this case concerning a 16 year-old girl who has been publicly hanged for ‘acts incompatible with chastity’.

1414

Iran leads the international rogues’ gallery when it comes to executions.

1415

They are leaders with little to recommend them.

1416

This House always condemns executions, wherever they take place.

1417

We shall continue to do so, especially where minors are concerned.

1418

Execution is completely unacceptable and contravenes all the international conventions.

1419

1420

The Iranian Government has recently intensified its hounding of journalists and dissidents.

1421

Quite a few journalists have disappeared or have been imprisoned, tortured and killed.

1422

We must vigorously condemn this development and demand that those who are still alive be released, or that their families be informed.

1423

1424

The so-called human rights dialogue that we have been conducting with Iran for quite a few years has failed, and we must recognise the fact.

1425

It must either be concluded or be considerably redefined.

1426

Has it produced any results?

1427

No, we cannot point to any progress.

1428

We owe the Iranian people a strong EU commitment in Iran to democracy and human rights.

1429

If there is no progress in this area, it is, in the view of myself and of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, quite impossible to imagine any kind of association agreement with Iran.

1430

1431

1432

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, we are discussing the human rights situation in Iran for the first time since the recent elections to this House.

1433

This debate has been prompted by deep concern at the deterioration of the situation, a concern echoed by the Council in October.

1434

1435

It would appear that the increasing number of reports of death sentences being imposed is only the tip of the iceberg.

1436

Scarcely any opportunities remain for us to really monitor what is happening.

1437

Four months after the parliamentary elections in Iran, we are faced with a situation in which a deliberate clampdown is being implemented against the small freedoms won and the progress achieved over recent years, such as freedom of movement for women, journalists, pupils and students, and in which the Iranian parliament systematically rejects government bills seeking to improve the rule of law, such as those relating to gender equality.

1438

1439

In this context, I should like to stress that announcements of expected improvements – and we have received a great many letters from Iran’s Ambassador to Brussels too – are not enough on their own.

1440

It is true that all progress, no matter how small, towards improving the human rights situation for those affected and those in danger is to be welcomed, but, to be quite frank, I must say that I find it far from satisfactory for a government bill on the suspension of stonings merely to be announced.

1441

1442

We must fight to ensure that stonings are not merely suspended but actually outlawed.

1443

In my opinion, statements that the Iranian Parliament, the Majlis, has been presented with a bill on suspending the death sentence for juveniles do not go far enough.

1444

After all, this means that in general the death sentence will continue to be legitimate and legal, and that cannot be the position adopted by this House.

1445

In this case as well, therefore, we welcome progress, but as yet this progress hardly corresponds to our ideas of democracy and the rule of law.

1446

1447

This parliamentary term has seen the European Parliament, for the first time in its history, set up an interparliamentary delegation for relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

1448

Despite the deterioration in the human rights situation, or rather precisely because of it, we have set up and supported this delegation.

1449

We in this House seek to make use of the few instruments available to us to provide help and to build contacts with the Iranian parliament.

1450

The Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance has assumed the chairmanship of this delegation, and despite all the problems I look forward to the cooperation between this House and the Majlis.

1451

We must endeavour to move dialogue forward so that those who fight as democrats in Iran hear a strong voice of support from Europe.

1452

1453

1454

Mr President, during the previous parliamentary term I was rapporteur for Iran, a task which I tried to perform with a great deal of good will and also a certain amount of faith in the Iranian authorities.

1455

This was made easier by the fact that Iran had a reform-minded Parliament throughout that period, we were initially able to establish good contacts with it.

1456

1457

Over the years, however, there have been moves not only to deprive the public systematically of the small freedoms that have just been mentioned, but also to bring pressure to bear even on members of the parliament, especially those from the judiciary and from the conservative sections of the clergy.

1458

As a result of this, unfortunately, this year has seen an increase in the number of reports of death sentences being carried out, including those imposed on juveniles, such as the 16-year-old girl who was hanged in August.

1459

It is of course out of the question for us to accept such a state of affairs.

1460

1461

It is therefore right and proper that there should be at present no plans for a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

1462

If we are to be able to make a contribution, our Delegation for relations with Iran needs to attempt to make contact not merely with the parliament, but also with civil society.

1463

It is important that we should show those in Iran who want change – and there are many of them – that we are not merely observing them, but that we are also attempting to build contacts, as by doing so we will give them the courage to try to improve conditions from the inside.

1464

I agree that we should not take interventionist action from the outside, but that we should instead strengthen the forces which exist within Iran itself, so that they can build their own democracy.

1465

1466

1467

Mr President, today, this Parliament once again intends to express its indignation at what is happening in Iran – the sustained discrimination against women, the torture, the censorship, the imprisonment of people who are not punishable according to European standards, the executions and, in particular, the killing of children.

1468

Although the aggressive and ultra-conservative Iranian Government is supported by only a minority of the population, it has little reason to worry about Europe’s solidarity with the Iranian people.

1469

The justified condemnations from Europe are overtaken by a practice of a completely different nature.

1470

Last week, the French press office AFP reported that the EU’s three largest Member States have forged a mutually advantageous agreement with Iran.

1471

In exchange for a restriction on Iranian developments in the area of atomic energy and possibly nuclear weapons, the Iranian democratic opposition in exile would remain on the list of terrorist organisations.

1472

In no way do we have a problem with these exiles, but the Iranian regime does.

1473

Applying the designation of ‘terrorist’ to organisations should not be something to be bartered with.

1474

While the neighbouring countries Iraq and Afghanistan are handled extremely roughly, why is everyone acting as if this government in Iran has eternal life?

1475

1476

1477

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I believe that it is a good thing that the European Parliament should act to ensure that freedom and justice prevail, not only in Europe – since in our continent too there are some countries where even today, unfortunately, freedom is lacking – but also throughout the world.

1478

I think that this is one of our duties, one of our principal goals.

1479

Therefore, I consider it our duty to take a particular interest in those areas where there is the greatest risk of the most fundamental human rights not being respected.

1480

Iran is certainly one of these areas and we must therefore consider our commitment to this country to be an absolute priority.

1481

1482

I would like to add, however, that recent reports have on more than one occasion proved to be totally contradictory.

1483

This leaves us with a picture of the current situation without any definite certainties.

1484

I say ‘definite certainties’, because we certainly have some idea already.

1485

1486

In these last few days, the Iranian authorities have stated that the information in our documents does not correspond to the truth.

1487

On this point, naturally, I cannot be in total agreement, but it seems likely that a few inaccuracies have been included.

1488

I certainly do not believe that we should take what the Iranian authorities say as the gospel truth, as we know that in the past, and perhaps now too, this country has certainly not distinguished itself for its transparency and democracy.

1489

1490

I believe, however, although this is perhaps not complying precisely with the rules of this Chamber, that it would now be wise to propose a postponement of the vote on this resolution.

1491

We should delay voting to another part-session, obviously not very far in the future, when we have succeeded in obtaining rather more accurate data.

1492

I do not intend, moreover, to call into question everything said by the Iranian embassy.

1493

In fact, the Iranian embassy sent a letter to our President Mr Borrell yesterday – I have a copy of it – following up on correspondence with Mrs Svensson, in which it contests the content of our resolutions.

1494

1495

I had thought that it was still not clear whether the death penalty was still inflicted on minors in Iran.

1496

According to the Iranian authorities, though, it would seem that in the last two years all capital punishment of minors has been suspended.

1497

In view of this, therefore, I propose that the vote be postponed to a later date, and that meanwhile we listen again to the Iranian authorities in order to have a more precise picture and to be able to reflect on our vote more calmly and collectedly.

1498

In any case, if we proceed to a vote, the UEN Group will obviously vote in favour of this resolution, while I will abstain in the light of what I have just said.

1499

1500

1501

Mr President, the laws of history and geography are not easily set aside.

1502

Throughout history Iran, or Persia, has always been one of the most important countries in the global region in which it is situated.

1503

This will remain the case in future, and the country is of tremendous importance, particularly for Europe.

1504

1505

It is precisely for this reason, however, that we must push for human rights to be monitored closely, as long-term stability can only be achieved on the basis of human rights, not at the cost of such rights.

1506

I must therefore object most strongly to Mr La Russa’s proposal, as if this House were to postpone human rights resolutions every time it received a letter from an embassy, it would make no progress whatsoever with its work in this field.

1507

We will, of course, maintain dialogue with Iran; since Iranian diplomats already appear to be following our moves so closely, however, I can tell them right now, as part of this debate, that they should inform the judiciary, politicians and administration of their country that this House has frequently discussed human rights violations in the past.

1508

This was followed by regime change, with those who committed these violations of human rights and repressions bitterly regretting having chosen the wrong side.

1509

1510

For many years, we held intense debates criticising the Iron Curtain and the regime behind it, as well as denouncing human rights violations.

1511

Today many of those who suppressed human rights during this time would be glad to have not done so or to be able to undo their actions.

1512

1513

We must therefore continue to focus a spotlight on events, as the only protection we can offer victims of persecution is that we will hold debates on issues, that we will face facts, and that we will bring these facts to the public’s attention.

1514

We must, of course, take the utmost care in doing so, which is always difficult when too many names are mentioned.

1515

The massive scale on which human rights are violated in Iran and the suppression of the freedom of the press, as well as the continued inclusion of the death penalty in the Penal Code, and – although they are perhaps not carried out today – the legal status accorded to stonings and the failure to prohibit them, as rightly noted; these are facts, and from them we cannot turn away.

1516

I therefore recommend that this resolution be adopted.

1517

1518

1519

. Mr President, I wish to add a point to the wise words just spoken by Mr Posselt and by the vast majority of those who spoke before, a point that I feel is extremely important.

1520

I refer to the overwhelmingly urgent need to remove the name of the ‘People’s Mujahedeen’ from the list of terrorist organisations.

1521

We finally have documentary proof, issued by Agence France Presse, that the term 'terrorist organisation' exists solely as a negotiating tool with Iran, as a bargaining chip with the Iranian authorities, that this has no basis in verifiable fact, that it is an affront to justice, that it is an affront to truth and that it is an affront to all those people involved in the struggle for peace and freedom in the noble country of Iran.

1522

This, then, is the appeal that I should like to make to the European institutions and to all of you, ladies and gentlemen: it is essential that the ‘People’s Mujahedeen’ be removed immediately from the list of terrorist organisations.

1523

1524

1525

– Mr President, the sovereign imperialist powers which either supported or encouraged extreme religious fanaticism to take hold in numerous countries bear a tremendous responsibility.

1526

I am replying to the last speaker but one from the other side.

1527

In August and September 1988, thousands of progressive patriots, communists, trade unionists and democrats, including 38 leading cadres of the Tudeh Party of Iran, were executed, brutally tortured or imprisoned.

1528

There was, of course, no such consideration for them at that time.

1529

1530

The situation is truly intolerable.

1531

We express our solidarity with the people of Iran.

1532

We believe that the people themselves must bring down this regime.

1533

We also support the request submitted to the UN by the families of the victims of the 1988 slaughter for information about the fate of their relatives who disappeared.

1534

Nonetheless, I would point out that we face a new Iraq-type plan announced by the United States of America, which named Iran as one of the countries of the axis of evil.

1535

This plan has been adopted by ΝΑΤΟ, integrated into the general 'Middle East' plan agreed at the ΝΑΤΟ summit in Istanbul last June and accepted by the European Union.

1536

These forces are endeavouring, using as a pretext human rights, which are indeed dishonoured in Iran, or the production of nuclear weapons by Iran, to secure the consent or tolerance of the people to the unleashing of new wars, not for human rights, but in order to control the region and its oil.

1537

1538

This time, we warn you, the people will not fall into the trap.

1539

All of you dreaming of a new Iraq will be sorely disappointed, because the whole of mankind will rise up.

1540

1541

1542

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, this is an important debate and one that is not only about the irrefutable fact that Iran is a fundamentalist state where human rights are frequently violated.

1543

This is also a debate in which it must be stated quite clearly that two things must never be forgotten if we are to bring progress to other countries outside the EU.

1544

Firstly, equal opportunities and equality before the law must be implemented in the EU itself, where much remains to be done, to put it mildly.

1545

Only then will we have the moral right to reprimand others.

1546

Secondly, as the doctor’s creed says, ‘first do no harm’.

1547

1548

It is not difficult to adopt a resolution, but it is difficult to dispute facts that are unacceptable in terms of the European system of values we claim as our own.

1549

It should not be forgotten that the European system of values and the system of values that exists in Iran – a system of values bound up with the country’s religion – are two quite disparate worlds.

1550

Any attempt at taking short cuts in rebuilding this system may lead to unrest, with a legitimate goal proving to be the cause of even greater tragedies for the Iranian people.

1551

I am sure the House is full of good intentions, but we will not be able to make genuine improvements to the lives of the Iranian people by issuing condemnations or imposing isolation of any kind.

1552

The only way to achieve progress is through gradual development, and any attempts to cut short this process cannot fail to result in tension and a further closing off of the country’s system and regime.

1553

Any real influence we have on events inside Iran is extremely limited.

1554

1555

Whilst on the subject of human rights, it is worth taking this opportunity to present the other side of the story, which has had an impact right here at the heart of Europe.

1556

The system of values upon which European civilisation was built, and upon which European and Latin cultures were built, is now being rejected by this very House.

1557

This is also a short cut.

1558

It means all the nations and all the Member States of the European Union are still being forced to accept models imposed by a minority as the only politically correct ones.

1559

This is another approach that cannot fail to result in tension if unnecessary short cuts are taken, and this tension may be one of the key reasons why the European Union is unable to create a genuinely firm foundation for the edifice you wish to construct.

1560

In conclusion, therefore, I should like to warn against condemning and admonishing others as long as we remain incapable of putting our own backyard in order.

1561

1562

1563

Mr President, it is not only Iran’s domestic affairs we are talking about today.

1564

We are discussing a country that is finishing work on an atomic bomb and on devices able to launch such bombs at Israel and at American bases.

1565

This poses the threat of supraregional conflict.

1566

1567

What image do we have of Iran today?

1568

One made up of a whole variety of aspects, such as the sentencing to death of teenagers, as referred to by previous speakers, public executions and stonings.

1569

This is not a matter of a European system of values, Mr Pęk, it is a matter of indisputable human values.

1570

We hear of executions on a daily basis, as if we were reading reports of road accidents in Europe.

1571

The figures are as follows: 22 executions were carried out in October, and 120 over the course of six months.

1572

These figures hide human tragedies that statistics may not fully reveal, and the situation is deteriorating, as those who favour a tough line increasingly have the say in Iran.

1573

1574

We should not allow a debate on persecution to pass without reference to an issue which has not yet been raised before this House. To my great surprise, Mr Pęk did not mention it either.

1575

I have in mind the persecution of religious minorities and of Christians.

1576

For example, 80 Christians were arrested in Teheran on 11 September.

1577

It is a shame that this escaped Mr Pęk’s attention.

1578

The situation we are discussing is a kind of never-ending story that just goes on and on.

1579

This being the case, Mr Meijer is entirely right to say that the inclusion of certain bodies, for example the People’s Mujahideen, in the list of terrorist organisations would be a mistake, as these are the very people who are fighting against the regime.

1580

The European Parliament must bring pressure to bear on Iran, and I should like to praise those Members of this House who lead the way on this issue and monitor developments in the field.

1581

1582

1583

Mr President, as you are no doubt aware, the General Affairs and External Relations Council recently adopted conclusions on human rights in Iran.

1584

These conclusions are unequivocal: despite the commitment made by the Iranian Government to reinforce human rights and to promote the rule of law, very little progress has been made.

1585

That is, moreover, the reason why the Union decided in principle in September to co-sponsor the resolution on the human rights situation in Iran that Canada intends to table at the United Nations General Assembly.

1586

1587

Nevertheless, we believe that it is crucial – and I am sure that most of the Members here today would agree – to continue our efforts to establish a constructive and long-term relationship between the European Union and Iran.

1588

Seen in this light, the dialogue with Iran is an important tool for encouraging the democratic process, and we are determined to pursue this dialogue, which was initiated in December 2002 to consider in particular human rights.

1589

It is a useful tool for making contacts, not only with influential representatives of the judiciary, but also with representatives of Iranian civil society.

1590

I should like furthermore to underline the visits that the United Nations Special Rapporteurs on human rights have made to Iran since this dialogue began.

1591

1592

I clearly heard Mrs De Keyser’s comment that this dialogue amounted only to words.

1593

I heard Mrs Malmström suggest that we should, as it were, draw it to a close.

1594

This is not our position, not because of the extent of the results achieved at this stage – such results can only be assessed in the long term – but rather because of an absence of viable alternatives.

1595

We have also entered into discussions with Iran on economic and trade issues and held a number of negotiating sessions in the hope of reaching a trade and cooperation agreement.

1596

Nevertheless, in the light of increasing concern, particularly about nuclear matters, these discussions have been suspended for some time.

1597

I think that answers Mr Gahler’s suggestion.

1598

1599

As you are aware, the issue of the development of the Iranian nuclear programme continues to be dealt with at international level.

1600

In parallel, the Union has given its blessing to the negotiations currently being conducted in Vienna by the United Kingdom, France and Germany on the idea of a nuclear package.

1601

The Council of Ministers is obviously better placed than we are to report on this, if required, and also to respond to Mr Casaca’s point on the MKO, since the list in question is drawn up on the initiative of the Member States by the Council itself and the Commission does not make proposals in this field.

1602

1603

I will finish, Mr President, by saying, on behalf of the Commission, that the Iranians are perfectly aware of the fact that all of the political, nuclear, trade and human rights issues that we have just debated are inextricably linked and that, broadly speaking, we are in favour of constructive engagement, but that on no account does this mean granting Iran a kind of enabling it to act irresponsibly in the areas that are giving your Parliament, the Commission and, I am sure, the Council serious cause for concern.

1604

1605

1606

Yes, Mr Casaca, you had requested the floor.

1607

In accordance with the Rules of Procedure, you may ask a question or make a comment, but you must be very brief.

1608

1609

1610

Mr President, let me make things clear.

1611

I had the opportunity of an audience with the Council on the subject of relations between the EU and Iran. I had the opportunity to hear with my own ears that the Council deemed this dialogue dead in the water.

1612

I am therefore extremely surprised to see the Commission, against all logic, wishing to revive something that is no more than a completely failed project and criticising those Members of this House who spoke very well on the subject.

1613

1614

1615

Thank you very much, Mr Casaca.

1616

1617

The debate is closed.

1618

1619

The vote will take place after the debates.

1620

1621

1622

The next item is the debate on the following five motions for resolutions presented by:

1623

1624

- Johan Van Hecke, on behalf of the ALDE Group, on Guantánamo (B6-0114/2004);

1625

1626

- Panagiotis Beglitis, Véronique De Keyser and Pasqualina Napoletano, on behalf of the PSE Group, on Guantánamo (B6-0115/2004);

1627

1628

- Kathalijne Maria Buitenweg, Hélène Flautre and Jean Denise Lambert, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, on Guantánamo (B6-0117/2004);

1629

1630

- Bernd Posselt and José Ribeiro e Castro, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, on Guantánamo (B6-0119/2004);

1631

1632

- André Brie, Willy Meyer Pleite, Roberto Musacchio and Tobias Pflüger, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on Guantánamo (B6-0122/2004).

1633

1634

1635

Mr President, there are two main concerns highlighted in this resolution: the denial of fair trials and the maltreatment of prisoners.

1636

We reiterate two underlying commitments against which these concerns must be evaluated.

1637

Firstly, one of the prime duties of democracies is to protect their citizens with resolve and to fight terrorism firmly and tenaciously.

1638

Secondly, both the EU and the United States have to ensure the right to freedom, democracy, the rule of law and human rights.

1639

If either of us fights a war on terror in a way that breaches these fundamental principles, the terrorists have won.

1640

Consequently, this Parliament demands that both EU and non-EU prisoners at Guantanamo Bay – including five of my London constituents – be tried, without delay, in a fair and public hearing and by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal – not by military commissions.

1641

1642

The US Supreme Court has said that the protection provided under the US constitution applies, but the present Administration is frustrating implementation of that judgment.

1643

What real action is the EU taking to convince the US in its – and our – own interest to obey the rule of law?

1644

Would this not be easier if the UK was not also holding prisoners without charge or trial?

1645

1646

With regard to the well-documented harsh and coercive treatment at Guantanamo Bay, Abu Graib and elsewhere, what is happening to morality as well as legality?

1647

Some, including me, would say that torture is taking place.

1648

Internees at Belmarsh in England are literally being driven mad by indefinite incarceration.

1649

The former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan has highlighted how reliance is being place on torture-induced evidence.

1650

Are these the standards that we wish to accept?

1651

I look forward to hearing how the EU is acting forcefully to stop this moral and legal rot.

1652

1653

1654

Mr President, it is good that the European Parliament should debate the issue of the prisoners in Guantánamo and adopt a resolution on such a bloody violation of international rights and international law.

1655

1656

This is not our first resolution on the subject and we have made some progress since the first one we approved in February 2002.

1657

That first text began with a macabre irony, reiterating the European Parliament’s firm solidarity with the United States in the fight against terrorism, with full respect for the rights and freedoms of the individual.

1658

Of course at that time it was all to justify American actions by blaming what was happening in Guantánamo on a lack of definitions and the need to update the Geneva Convention.

1659

1660

Looking back two and a half years later, that Resolution was a scandal.

1661

Fortunately, two years later, we adopted the Andreasen report’s Recommendation to the Council, which was much more appropriate.

1662

1663

The text proposed to us today may be politically correct, although it seems to me to be excessively sterile.

1664

We are still treating with kid gloves what is a radical denial of the rule of law and respect for the rules established by the international community for maintaining peace, and, above all, we fail to say that what we called for seven months ago has received nothing more than disdain and silence from the United States.

1665

1666

The aim of my speech is, therefore, to condemn the crime being committed in Guantánamo, and also to condemn the hypocrisy and double standards of many bodies of the European Union, including the European Parliament, when demands are being made and dialogue blocked with the country in which Guantánamo is an enclave and, at the same time, it is stated that together with the United States we form the same community of values.

1667

1668

This folly is demonstrated by what is happening in Guantánamo and if that is the community of values we share, you can count me out.

1669

My community of values, the community of values I fought for in Spain under 40 years of dictatorship promoted and sustained by Washington, is something else.

1670

It is a different community of values, which many of us believe in: quite simply the one enshrined in the European Constitution.

1671

1672

1673

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, our group’s position on this matter is clear and unequivocal.

1674

On the one hand, we are aware of the threat posed by terrorism at the moment, of the horrors of global terrorism, of the challenges that it presents and the fact that, as I have often said, it is the greatest current threat to human rights and to fundamental rights.

1675

We express again our solidarity with the victims of the appalling terrorist attacks of 11 September and of 11 March this year in Madrid.

1676

1677

We are aware that it is the main duty of democracies to combat terrorism and to dismantle its networks.

1678

On the other hand, we cannot contradict the very values that we seek to uphold and that we affirm.

1679

We must be able to show that we uphold these values at all times, particularly on the front line in this battle.

1680

We therefore deplore and condemn the cases of maltreatment and inhumanity in the treatment of prisoners, as referred to just now.

1681

1682

We regret the fact that we must vote in favour of this resolution but, given the testimonies that have come to light, we have no alternative, because we must always show consistency when we affirm our values and rights.

1683

We are indeed convinced that this is also the guiding principle of the North American culture to which so many ties bind us.

1684

We accept the decisions and recommendations made by the Supreme Court and, in reference to the article published in the New York Times, we should like to see the guidelines set out by President Bush and Secretary of State Rumsfeld followed to the letter. In that way, maltreatment will not take place, the cases that have come to light can be investigated and all prisoners can be given a fair trial and can be treated with the values that we affirm and the fundamental rights that we defend.

1685

1686

1687

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I passionately hope that next Tuesday the American people will defeat Mr Bush’s extreme right government.

1688

That would be the quickest way to put an end to the medieval treatment being suffered by the prisoners of war in Guantánamo.

1689

1690

That government has taken a step backwards from civilisation in favour of barbarism, through pre-emptive war.

1691

We are talking about the collateral damage resulting from pre-emptive war, such as the humiliation of prisoners of war in Guantánamo, where the Geneva Convention is not respected, where people are denied the right to a public and fair trial, to legal representation, and people are tortured.

1692

We already have the testimonies of people who have been tortured.

1693

1694

What are we Europeans waiting for?

1695

Yesterday this Parliament gave a lesson in the sensitivity of managing the protection of freedoms.

1696

So the old Europe cannot remain silent in the face of an administration responsible for the ignominy of having prisoners of war bound and gagged in truly medieval dungeons.

1697

The old Europe cannot tolerate that.

1698

We must therefore speak out clearly, and I agree with my fellow Spaniard, who has said that this resolution is important, but that it is very mild.

1699

We must speak out more loudly against the ignominy of Guantánamo.

1700

1701

1702

Mr President, the fight against all kinds of terrorism and against all terrorists is a key goal for both the international community and the European Union.

1703

I deliberately say against terrorists and all kinds of terrorism, as I object to references to ‘terrorism’, which imply that this is a uniform phenomenon and suggest a mistaken view of the world.

1704

We must, however, be clear about the fact that this fight can only be fought and won on a legal basis.

1705

So, even though both the Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats and this House stood firmly behind the USA when the Taliban regime had to be overthrown and action taken against terrorists, we say a categorical ‘no’ to what is happening in Guantánamo.

1706

1707

The unfortunate fact is, Mr Meyer Pleite, that the conditions prevailing in Iran are not at all reminiscent of the Middle Ages.

1708

In the Middle Ages there was a legal system, albeit one very different to ours, whereas what prevails in Iran is utter lawlessness.

1709

We are calling for the prisoners in Guantánamo to have access to international or national courts, or at any rate to independent courts, for them to be able to receive visits freely and for them to be afforded all rights guaranteed to them under international humanitarian law.

1710

This has nothing to do with the relativisation of terrorist ambitions; it is a prerequisite for fighting terrorism effectively.

1711

The USA is one of the oldest democracies in the world, and it has brought freedom and democracy to many European countries.

1712

Without the enormous support of the USA and our alliance with it, we would never have been able to bring down the Iron Curtain, and many of the Members of this House today would not be here if the USA had not pursued a policy of democracy throughout the world.

1713

I therefore call on the United States of America to stand firmly by our side in the fight against injustice and dictatorships, but to do so on the basis of international law and human rights.

1714

1715

1716

Mr President, nearly 200 people, including five British nationals, have been released since the prison was created.

1717

This means that all these people were held against their will for up to two years, without being told why.

1718

They were tortured, denied access to family, friends or legal representation, and in the end they were not charged with any crime.

1719

How can any civilised democratic society not only justify but also condone this?

1720

If a country like Iran, for instance, did this to an American citizen, I am sure George Bush would be the first to condemn it.

1721

1722

One of my constituents, Moazzam Begg, who is detained in Guantanamo Bay, wrote a letter to his family which got through uncensored.

1723

It details a string of abuses.

1724

This, along with other evidence from former prisoners and people who have worked there, paints a disturbing picture of what is going on.

1725

There must be an immediate independent investigation into the allegations.

1726

All the detainees at Guantanamo Bay have been held in unacceptable legal limbo for far too long.

1727

1728

1729

1730

Mr President, the fight against terrorism is undoubtedly one of the major challenges facing our society and the whole of the international community, but it is also clear that it requires us to answer crucial questions about the way in which terrorism can enter into conflict with the promotion and protection of human rights.

1731

The Union’s position on this is simple and clear: moreover, it is the same position that all of you without exception have just reaffirmed in this debate. The fight against terrorism has to take second place to respect for human rights, and not the reverse.

1732

1733

As far as the situation of the approximately 550 people still being detained at Guantanamo Bay is concerned, the Commission, as such, does not have the authority to intervene on their behalf, but that does not stop us from monitoring the situation carefully.

1734

Bilaterally, the Member States have also expressed their concerns to the United States about the way in which their nationals are being treated.

1735

1736

The recent judgment of the United States Supreme Court in the Rasoul v. Bush case was an important first step towards restoring the protection of fundamental human rights.

1737

The United States Supreme Court in fact ruled that United States courts had jurisdiction to consider challenges to the legality of the detention of foreign nationals captured abroad in connection with hostilities and incarcerated at Guantanamo Bay.

1738

That being the case, it is regrettable that in the procedures begun before the military review panels, specially set up, following this ruling, to examine the status of combatant, the detainees are not permitted to be represented by lawyers.

1739

1740

The European Union has stressed that anti-terrorist measures should go hand in hand with an unconditional ban on all forms of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

1741

The International Pact on Civil and Political Rights admittedly allows states to derogate from certain rights in an emergency and under certain conditions, but some rights are inviolable and should be respected under all circumstances, such as the right not to be tortured and the right not to be arbitrarily detained.

1742

These obligations, which are also enshrined in the United Nations Convention Against Torture and the Geneva Conventions, have to be respected in any event.

1743

1744

In the case of those accused of being part of the Taliban or Al Qaeda, whether they are being held at Guantanamo or elsewhere, the international community should, in our view, reaffirm its full and unremitting support for the rules of international law, including humanitarian law and rules on human rights.

1745

Real progress can only be made in the fight against terrorism if we ensure that all parties respect these values.

1746

1747

1748

Thank you very much, Commissioner.

1749

1750

The debate is closed.

1751

1752

The vote will take place next.

1753

1754

1755

Mr President, there have been a number of developments which we should take into account.

1756

After consulting the other groups, I therefore propose replacing recital N.

1757

1758

1759

... 'welcomes clarification from the Iranian authorities concerning the case of the 13-year-old Zhila Izadi, allegedly sentenced to death by stoning, and the sentencing of her 15-year-old brother, Bakhtiar, to 250 lashes, that both have been unconditionally released without further pursuit of their case'.

1760

1761

1762

We shall proceed to the vote on:

1763

1764

(1)

1765

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