Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-03-14-Speech-3-281"
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"en.20010314.12.3-281"2
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"Mr President, first of all, I should like to congratulate Mr Fava on his report, which I believe addresses a key factor in the coherence and visibility of the European Union’s external action. I think that electoral observation and support for electoral processes are an extraordinarily important factor for bolstering the European Union’s action to protect human rights, democratic freedoms, democratic values and the rule of law.
A point that Mr Fava made very well is that we must not isolate the processes of electoral observation from their overall context. Citizens are required, on certain occasions, to cast their vote, but the process of building democracy is a daily task. I therefore feel that the European Union’s action must be directed at ensuring long-term democratic stability in developing countries through the efficient funding of the corresponding programmes, in which the Commission has a crucial role to play.
I should like, Mr President, to focus very briefly on the role that the European Parliament should play in these processes. I think that paragraph 9 of the motion for a resolution contained in Mr Fava’s report very rightly emphasises the fact that, ideally, these missions should be chaired by Members of the European Parliament. There are three basic reasons for this: first of all, the European Parliament can contribute highly relevant experience, knowledge and vision on this matter, since, as Members of the European Parliament, we have all been elected in open and democratic electoral processes in our Member States. Secondly, the European Parliament gives legitimacy to our project of integrating Europe and I think that Parliament is therefore extremely well-qualified to represent the European Union. I would say it is better placed to do this than the national parliaments. Thirdly, the European Parliament is ultimately one of the two branches of budgetary authority.
The European Union is the world’s largest donor of development aid and I think it is therefore appropriate that the European Parliament should have a role to play in this type of process. I therefore hope, Mr President, that this report by Mr Fava on the Commission communication on EU election assistance and observation missions will contribute to improving the European Union’s external actions in an effective, visible and coherent way."@en1
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