Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-03-14-Speech-3-149"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20010314.5.3-149"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:translated text |
"Mr President, Mr Brok, ladies and gentlemen, I would first like to thank Mr Brok for addressing this vital issue. I would like to take this opportunity to give a general answer on the way the Swedish Presidency approaches preventive work within the Union.
The EU must also develop sustainable and effective partnerships with other important players. The UN is our most important partner. We are trying to establish close long-term cooperation at all levels between the EU and the UN. Similarly, we are strengthening relations with the OSCE.
In Africa, we are seeking partnership with the sub-regional organisations SADC, IGAD and ECOWAS, which also work on conflict prevention and crisis management, in order to help them build up their capabilities and support local processes. ECOWAS’ small arms moratorium is a good example.
We are also setting up a joint expert group for conflict prevention with Canada and developing contacts with the G8 group.
Partnership with others naturally has to be driven by real needs and comparative benefits. When I recently visited the Southern Caucasus with Mr Patten and Dr Solana, it was an obvious occasion to build on the OSCE’s and the European Council’s knowledge of, and presence in, the area. Now, we are discussing how the EU can work with the OSCE to develop monitoring of the border with the Northern Caucasus. The Troika’s visit to the Caucasus in February and to Israel and Gaza in the past two days is another example of the EU’s role in conflict prevention.
I would also like to point out that relations with civil society and NGOs are crucial if we are to succeed.
There has been a request for a Council declaration on the situation in Northern FYROM, and I would like to take this up as an example of the way the EU can work:
For several years, we have taken measures to try to prevent conflict through unarmed monitors, aid for political and economic reforms and for central and local institutions, the 1998 Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the Stabilisation and Association Agreement which is expected to be signed shortly.
On 22 February came the first reports that an armed Albanian group had entered Northern FYROM. Their purpose was unclear, but there was clear resistance to ratification of the border agreement recently signed between FYROM and FRY.
In order to prevent increased violence, the EU and the presidency representatives in Skopje established a close dialogue with FYROM’s government. The Troika called a meeting of the leading Albanian parties and urged them to vote for ratification of the border agreement, which the majority did.
Following the gun battles, explosion of mines and exchanges of fire, the EU has condemned the violent attacks and urged all parties – particularly representatives of the Albanian minority in FYROM – to distance themselves from the violent actions. We have said that it is important to have closer cooperation and have also welcomed the cooperation between KFOR, UNMIK and the FYROM authorities and expressed support for FYROM’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while also urging restraint.
“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” This is the opening of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights – the cornerstone of our work for individual freedom, safety and dignity.
The important message to the public has been that FYROM’s future lies in closer ties with Europe and the EU and that stability and security is a vital condition of this. The desire of the people of the Balkans for integration and cooperation with Europe means that the EU can play a vital role – including a crucial role in forming opinion.
We have started an important process in carrying out the proposals the Commission and the High Representative presented in their report to the European Council in Nice and will hopefully be able to go on to approve a programme for conflict prevention in Gothenburg in June. In preparing the programme, we will naturally be carefully studying the proposals from Parliament, including the important Lalumière resolution of last year and the resolution which will be adopted tomorrow.
Let me finally say a few words about other elements of the cooperation surrounding the Common European Security and Defence Policy.
I have not addressed the subject of military capabilities today, but I believe that they have an important role to play. The knowledge that the EU has military capabilities also plays an important role in preventive work.
With regard to civil crisis management, we have to press on with what the European Council addressed – civilian police, the judicial system, civil administration and rescue services. We are working hard to turn the target of 5 000 police into reality. Member States have been asked to state their national contributions. An initial reconciliation will take place in May. We are putting a great deal of energy into developing the ability to plan and manage police initiatives and into common standards for equipment, training, etc.
We have also started work on other areas of capability – strengthening the judicial system and civil administration during crises and conflicts, and the Council Working Group for Rescue Services is drawing up concrete targets in its area.
We know that armed conflict damages all vital functions in a society. Crisis management must therefore include support for everything from the judicial system to refuse collection. Human rights, international agreements and humanitarian principles must be defended, especially with regard to safe access to help those suffering.
We will therefore also open discussions on areas of capability other than those which we have previously identified, e.g. observers and experts in human rights and disarmament.
Of course, we also have to solve the issues of how we are to achieve effective cooperation between civil and military crisis management. It is almost always the case that we solve these issues jointly when it comes to practical work in the field.
If it turns out that I have to leave this debate early, I would like to emphasise that this in no way means that I am not interested in hearing the thoughts of all Members of Parliament. The fact is, I am going to Murmansk to discuss important nuclear safety issues in Northern Russia, and getting to Murmansk is not easy.
As we know, war and armed conflict destroy all fundamental principles. Instead, the law of the strong rules through firepower and oppression.
The 20th century was the century of war with the world wars and wars in the Middle East and the Balkans. Each time alarm bells rang, but the international community often reacted too late. Now we can show that we are learning from the past. By actively focusing on preventing armed conflict, we can help make this century different.
The EU has a key role to play in this regard. Let me quote what Mr Hume said in Parliament when he was awarded the Nobel peace prize: “Let us not forget that European Union is the best example, as we have learned, in the history of the world of conflict resolution.” Today, conflict prevention is also a central element of the developing Common European Security and Defence Policy.
The ESDP is based on three pillars: military crisis management, civil crisis management and conflict prevention. These are closely linked. At the same time, prevention is different to military and civil crisis management in that it is not about reacting to a crisis that has already flared up, but about promoting in good time the fundamental values on which we all agree: that children should be able to go to school instead of to war and that democracy must be established at all levels.
The EU has an extremely large number of instruments which can be used to prevent armed conflict and manage crises. We must use these in a more considered and coherent way, both in the field and in Brussels. These issues must involve the whole Union and all institutions. We already know that the EU can make important interventions. Our unarmed monitors in Presevo and the police mission in Albania are just two examples.
Experience from the Balkans has clearly shown that conflict prevention must be based on long-term involvement. The basic causes of armed conflict must be removed. Therefore, development work has a key role. The decision of the Commission and the Development Council to integrate prevention into development work is central and must now be turned into practical guidelines for projects and programmes. It is a matter of strengthening human rights and democracy in the long term and of the way crisis management and humanitarian aid gives way to development work. The Commission’s upcoming communication on conflict prevention, on human rights and democracy and on humanitarian aid, reconstruction and development will, therefore, be significant.
We must also identify potential conflicts at an earlier stage. One example is the way water issues are often a source of conflict nowadays. However, we can see a telling example right next to us of the way the EU can mean that resources of common interest can create partnership and development. The river running through Strasbourg used to be a poisoned watercourse, a barrier. Now it is a common waterway and source of fish."@en1
|
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples