Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-02-01-Speech-4-019"
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"en.20010201.3.4-019"2
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"Mr President, the case we are now considering deserves to feature in a guide to what not to do in politics in terms of managing public affairs. First of all, the delay in implementing these measures – measures for eradicating BSE – is deplorable. These measures are always adopted reluctantly, in the wake of panic in society and this prolongs the public’s exposure to risk. It is now more than four years since this Parliament drafted recommendations that would have enabled us to prevent this disease.
Secondly, the lack of resources with which to implement the measures that have been proposed and to manage the crisis itself is also deplorable. These shortcomings betray a degree of blindness and, at times, genuine breaches in European construction. Although differences exist between Member States, it is surprising that, over time, the logistical resources for analysing and eliminating meat meal or risk-containing material have not been found. The financial shortcomings, on the other hand, are clear, both at Community and national level. Both the Community Treaties and national constitutions impose the obligation of protecting citizens’ health. It is therefore absurd to try to fund this crisis by taxing meat consumption or through the income of cattle farmers, which is causing small farms to go under.
At times we appear to be our own prisoners. Within the World Trade Organisation, we have accepted limits on our production by ceding a part of our vegetable protein market to the United States. So what are we going to do now? Are we going to replace animal meal with genetically modified soya, imported from the United States? Agenda 2000 laid down a reduction in aid to livestock farmers. We were aware of the consequences of this. How did we think that we would survive in the face of increasing costs and a drastic reduction in prices? On the other hand, however, Agenda 2000 does not implement measures for the development of large-scale livestock breeding either.
Finally, the almost religious respect for the Financial Perspective laid down in Berlin will prevent us from being able to cope with exceptional situations.
Ladies and gentlemen, let us be realistic: this crisis requires a change in the European Union’s position towards the WTO, a review of the Berlin Financial Perspective and a review of the common agricultural policy to correct its imbalances and its general orientation."@en1
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