Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/1999-10-26-Speech-2-016"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"1999-10-26"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:EC and ECSC budgets for 20002
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.19991026.2.2-016"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:1999-10-26-Speech-2-0172
lpv:speaker	lp:Gary Titley2
lpv:spoken text	". – Mr President, I should like to extend our congratulations to the rapporteur, Mr Bourlanges, and to the Chairman of the Committee on Budgets, Mr Wynn, on the way these proceedings have been conducted. Regretfully I cannot offer congratulations to the Council for their part in this process. The message the Foreign Affairs Committee has taken from the Council is that they believe we can only pay for Kosovo by taking money out of the hands of those who are even worse off than those in Kosovo. We want to rob the very poor in order to pay the slightly less poor. We want Africa to pay for the Balkans. I do not believe that is the message the EU should be sending out to the rest of the world. To find the EUR 500 million for Kosovo the Council has proposed an across-the-board cut of 10% in Category 4. Some cuts are even worse. For humanitarian aid, line B7-21, they are proposing a 20% cut. They are cutting EUR 70 million from NOVA: in other words, a 40% cut in assistance to Bosnia, so Bosnia has to pay for Kosovo. We are cutting support for the Middle East peace process just at the time where there is hope for a long-term solution to that process. What sort of political message is the European Union sending out about its commitment to that process? Of course there has to be financial responsibility and we have to set priorities, but a 10% cut across the board is not a proper setting of priorities. It is an exercise in indifference and irresponsibility. No wonder the EU’s reputation at the moment is not very high with the public. There are two other areas that the Foreign Affairs Committee would like to draw your attention to. First, we would like to see proper funding for the Royaumont Process, particularly ensuring that it is a Pillar I activity, not a Pillar II activity. Hence we propose that we should set up a line on the Stability Pact and take some money away from the Meda line in order to pay for it. Finally, we would also like your support for the conflict prevention network, set up as a result of Parliament’s work, particularly the work of Mr Rocard. Now that we have a similar organisation in the Council its work is even more important. I would urge your support for increased funding. I urge that financial prudence is not made an excuse to drive more people down into poverty."@en1
lpv:spokenAs	substitute; Committee on Development and Cooperation (1999-07-22--2000-02-15)3 substitute; Delegation to the EU-Slovenia Joint Parliamentary Committee (1999-10-08--2002-01-14)3 unknown; Labour Party (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 member; Conference of Delegation Chairs (1999-07-22--2002-01-14)3 chair; Delegation to the EU-Lithuania Joint Parliamentary Committee (1999-07-22--2002-01-14)3 member; PES (1999-07-20--2003-05-20)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"Titley (PSE ),"1 "draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy"1

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