Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-09-24-Speech-2-199"
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"en.20020924.10.2-199"2
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"Mr President, Commissioners, ladies and gentlemen, the external actions contained in heading 4 clearly represent the display window of the European Union and the Commission – of our joint action in the context of our international relations. It is a highly important chapter in which our credibility is at stake, not only with regard to the aspects already cited by my fellow Members – the RAL, occasional implementation problems – but also in terms of our public statements, our political and legal commitments, and important budget-related actions.
In his absence, I am addressing my comments to Commissioner Patten in particular, through the intermediary of Mrs Schreyer. I am talking about the cooperation agreements we have concluded with many countries. For a number of years, thanks to Parliament, these agreements have all contained what is called the ‘human rights’ clause. This clause is so important that it should be read and kept in mind. This clause states that the agreements shall in practice be suspended or considered suspended should the two parties fail to respect human rights as guaranteed by international conventions, and in particular the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Well, despite the fact that Parliament has insisted on this aspect, despite the fact that the Commission, as guardian of the Treaties, including cooperation agreements, made a commitment to ensure that these agreements are respected to the letter, we still, as if nothing had happened, continue to conclude and maintain projects, programmes and funding in countries run by dictators. Take Vietnam, for example. Together with my colleagues in the radical party and hundreds, or even thousands, of people, and also many of my fellow Members, I called the Commission’s attention to the human rights situation in Vietnam. Well, in 2003 we are due to give Vietnam EUR 38 million. We have tabled an amendment so that, at least at first reading, these agreements and funds may be set aside until the situation is resolved and both Vietnam and the Commission provide us with guarantees and explanations as to what is really going on there. There are other countries in a similar situation. We took Vietnam as an example because we think the Commission should really change its method of managing and implementing the budget with regard to these cooperation agreements."@en1
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