Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-02-14-Speech-3-334"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20010214.10.3-334"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spoken text |
". – Mr President, the European Commission welcomes Mr Soares's report on the Commission's communication 'The European Union and Macao beyond 2000' and we also welcome the draft motion for a resolution.
As I have already mentioned, we attach great importance to maintaining the rights, freedoms and democratic principles of Macao and its people. The Commission's report will look closely at the full range of issues that have characterised Macao's daily life during the first year of the SAR's existence.
Finally I am pleased to report that the Chief Executive of Macao, Mr Edmond Ho will visit Brussels on 7 May 2001. I know that the Commission will be keen to discuss with him the most recent developments in Macao. I hope that some of you will also have the opportunity to meet him.
I can assure Parliament that the Commission will continue to maintain an active watch on events in Macao, especially those regarding democratic principles and human rights. The Commission remains committed to assisting Macao wherever possible and to helping it develop and realise its full potential. We also remain fully committed to keeping Parliament informed of progress throughout Macao's transition process.
I am happy to note that Parliament and the Commission have reached similar overall conclusions on how to approach the future for Macao. I welcome the positive developments that have occurred in the Macao special administrative region (SAR) over the past year since the handover. We attach great importance to the people of Macao being able to continue to live their lives with the rights and freedoms they have enjoyed for so long. We share Parliament's view regarding the importance of the 1987 joint declaration and 1993 Basic Law as the main instruments for defining the status of the Macao special administrative region. This is why the Commission has given its commitment to watching very closely the process of transition and to helping the smooth implementation and retention of the 'one country, two systems' principle.
In the first year since the handover, Macao has established the required administrative institutions and adjusted to the new situation. The government, the legislative council and the judiciary have all made impressive efforts to adapt to the new situation. Macao has also been active internationally in its own right in areas such as telecommunications, civil aviation and investment protection, affirming its individuality and autonomy in areas covered by the Basic Law.
Like Parliament, we also welcome the fact that Macao has been provided with a modern legal system, including an express ban in the penal code on the enforcement of the death penalty. A modernised legal system will be of great benefit when applying the Basic Law under the 'one country, two systems' principle.
On our side, we will support their correct implementation where possible, including through our cooperation programme and particularly our legal cooperation project. We share the view of the importance of the 1993 EU-Macao Trade and Cooperation Agreement remaining in force to strengthen relations. We consider the agreement is fundamental to EU-Macao relations and is the basic requirement for the development of increased business cooperation, especially business-to-business links. It is also the basis for improved cooperation in those areas where Macao has retained its autonomy.
We intend to develop our trade as much as we can and the situation is improving. We will be supporting efforts to position the EU better in Macao by encouraging more investment by European companies and by helping Macau diversify its economic base when the time is right. We are pleased that last year was good for Macao's economy. Economic growth was positive, reaching 4% for the first time since 1996.
The European Parliament report and the resolution call for a dynamic approach in the activities of the EU-Macao Joint Committee. I can report that EU-Macao relations remain extremely good. The Joint Committee held its annual meeting in Brussels on 30 June 2000. This provided an excellent forum for both sides to exchange candid views and detailed information on the work in progress of transforming Macao into a special administrative region. They also discussed ways to improve and strengthen bilateral links, including through cooperation and trade and economic relations based on the recommendations of the Commission communication.
With regard to cooperation, the resolution calls upon the Commission to settle quickly the question of appointing a technical cooperation officer for Macao. Here I would have liked to be able to report that the nominated technical cooperation officer had been appointed in November as had been planned. Unfortunately the selected candidate withdrew at the final stage after a selection procedure that lasted several months. We continue to consider the appointment of the technical cooperation officer very important.
All in all, the situation in Macao has been positive. The Commission is finalising its first annual report on Macao and hopes to transmit it shortly to Council and Parliament. Parliament's report itself is timely, as its observations and recommendations will provide another source of advice to draw on when finalising the Commission's first annual report."@en1
|
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples