Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-04-04-Speech-3-140"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2001-04-04"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:UN conference on least-developed countries2
dcterms:Language	"nl"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20010404.6.3-140"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2001-04-04-Speech-3-1412
lpv:speaker	lp:Margrietus van den Berg2
lpv:spokenAs	member; Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America and Mexico (1999-10-06--2002-01-14)3 vice-chair; PES (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 substitute; AFCO (1999-07-22--2002-01-14)3 unknown; Partij van de Arbeid (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 vice-chair; Committee on Development and Cooperation (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 member; Members from the European Parliament to the Joint Parliamentary Assembly of the Agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union (ACP-EU) (1999-09-14--2002-01-14)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, the decision to grant the poorest countries access to the European market is a good start. Let us hope that the rest of the industrialised world will follow our lead. But we need much more than that, and the health initiative for the least developed countries – “All but AIDS” – is a case in point. 95% of people suffering from AIDS live in developing countries. Also, diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis claim too many victims annually. Healthcare in the poorest countries is seriously underfunded. It appears that the least developed countries are spending as little as USD 8 per person on healthcare. According to the WHO, this figure should be 8 or 9 times higher. That is why the European Union should have the courage to take unilateral initiatives at the third UN Conference in May. I would like to list a few of these initiatives. European aid in the field of healthcare should be discontinued, so that the poorest countries, such as India, can buy medicines against AIDS cheaply using our aid money. Secondly, the EU should ask the Member States to abolish the export tax on medicines for poverty-associated illnesses. Thirdly, aid for basic healthcare should be doubled in the 2001 Community budget. Half of that amount should be earmarked for the least developed countries. Fourthly, European legislation on orphan medicines should be tailored to the needs of the developing countries, so that the pharmaceutical industry in Europe is encouraged to also produce medicines for the poor countries, such as medicines against AIDS, malaria, etc. Fifthly, we should openly declare our support for Brazil and South Africa as soon as charges are brought against them. Sixthly, we should defend the position on cheap medicines and the right to parallel imports, even in international forums, and should ask the TRIPS agreement to be adapted accordingly. My seventh, and last, suggestion would be for all EU Member States to join forces to set up an international health and poverty fund, a fund from which an international, strategic long-term approach can be financed. Europe should also free up extra monies for this fund. Such a coherent initiative – “All but AIDS” – would be a fantastic contribution on the part of the Commission, and would send out a clear message that we, alongside “Everything but Arms”, can take a unilateral step ourselves. Such a unilateral step coming from Europe would have far greater impact, precisely in the new Bush era, than all kinds of general declarations. We need tangible results. I am convinced that the EU and Mr Lamy are extremely well placed to achieve these."@en1

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