Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-05-18-Speech-4-211"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2000-05-18"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Equal treatment (continuation)2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20000518.7.4-211"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2000-05-18-Speech-4-2122
lpv:speaker	lp:Charles Tannock2
lpv:spoken text	"Mr President, we are all opposed to discrimination and violence of all forms. However, I do not believe extending EU competence to this area is either necessary or useful to its cause. New laws will not change the hearts and minds of the people of Europe. What we need is education, time and confidence building in a spirit of cooperation between the various ethnic communities. We have in our own group two ethnic Members of the Conservative delegation who are extremely active and proud to be British Conservatives, in spite of what the other groups were saying earlier, and they will be voting against these measures. The shift of the burden of proof, as called for by this draft directive, is both frightening and extreme. Already in the UK, Mr Straw is planning that in rape cases the accused man will become guilty until proven innocent, on the basis of the testimony of one person – the woman in question. This is a very dangerous precedent against all forms of natural justice. Of course, we all condemn violent racist crimes and attacks. I was not present, but I believe a number of allegations were made and cases cited by other groups earlier in the debate. Criminal justice must remain the prerogative of the Member States. Unlike previous speakers who have cited such cases, I oppose any erosion of national sovereignty in the area of criminal justice. This must remain the prerogative of the Member States who will retain control of their own justice systems. The EU has no competence in this area whatsoever. The more the word ‘racist’ is bandied about, the more it will become meaningless, devalued and ignored by the public at large. I call on all those with any sense to oppose these measures."@en1
lpv:spokenAs	substitute; Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 substitute; Delegation to the EU-Hungary Joint Parliamentary Committee (1999-10-08--2002-01-14)3 unknown; Conservative and Unionist Party (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; Delegation to the EU-Slovak Republic Joint Parliamentary Committee (1999-10-06--2002-01-14)3 member; EPP-ED (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; ECON (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"Tannock (PPE-DE )."1

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