Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-02-16-Speech-3-032"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2000-02-16"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Coherence of EU policies with development2
dcterms:Language	"nl"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20000216.2.3-032"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2000-02-16-Speech-3-0332
lpv:speaker	lp:Jan Mulder2
lpv:spokenAs	member; ELDR (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; Delegation to the EU-Poland Joint Parliamentary Committee (1999-09-29--2002-01-14)3 member; BUDG (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 unknown; Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 substitute; CONT (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 substitute; AGRI (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, I would like to restrict my contribution to the link between development cooperation and agriculture. Over the past couple of years, a considerable share of the funds has been channelled towards the development of agriculture and cattle breeding in the developing countries and, more especially, the Lomé countries. The results are certainly not what we expected. What could be the cause of this? I think that the cause should first and foremost be sought in the lack of clear agricultural policy in the various developing countries, barring a few exceptions. I think that the Commission could do a great deal there to help this develop. No farmer, anywhere in the world, will produce something if prices are too low. The governments in the developing countries are always faced with a difficult dilemma: whom should they support, the farmers or the people in the large cities who want cheap food? This fine balance must be struck in conjunction with the Commission, and not by the Commission on its own. In most countries where the Commission is active, development aid is also granted by the Member States themselves. It should not be the case that the policy of the Member States contravenes that of the Commission. It is up to the Commission’s delegations in the developing countries to assume a leading role in the development of this political dialogue and to ensure that all countries follow this line of approach. Special attention is also required for the costs of the means of production. Far too often, artificial fertiliser, veterinary medication and a host of other items are provided to farmers free of charge. Once the project comes to an end after five years, the policy of free gifts also ends. I think, therefore, that the cost element should be built in right from the outset in the policy of all projects, and as far as I know, this is not the case by any stretch of the imagination. Finally, I wonder whether the funds could not be put to better use. Every year, I notice in the budget of the Commission and in the European Development Fund, that they are far behind in spending the funds."@en1

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