Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-09-25-Speech-3-191"
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"en.20020925.8.3-191"2
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"Mr President, I am probably going to be the only person here tonight with my position on this particular report. This report is viewed with extreme concern, regardless of what the rapporteur has said with regard to the United Kingdom. It will have an adverse effect on our agriculture, our farmers and our fishermen.
Where I come from in Northern Ireland the rural community is falling apart. To put any added burden on it at this moment in time is quite wrong. I want to make it very clear from the outset that I, my delegation, and those I represent are totally in favour of improvement to the highest possible standards. I will support those higher standards. But I have a problem when we impose from on high purist-type ideas on those who cannot defend themselves. That is what I oppose.
I am totally opposed to trying to impose this on off-road vehicles, be they vehicles that are used on farms, or the many other vehicles used in quarries or elsewhere. If we have to, let us set standards somewhere down the road longer-term. Let us work towards that as technology develops, but to sit here and say that we can impose this from this European Parliament is totally unacceptable.
If you want to know why Europe is unpopular in many areas of the European Union, just look at this type of proposal. What do the people say? They say 'Oh, there is Big Brother Brussels telling us what to do again'. Why do we not use common sense? Why do we not use our own initiative and not have the European Union hurting its own citizens while the rest of the world merely goes on its way destroying the environment? We have seen from Johannesburg and from Kyoto and elsewhere that they do not pay a jot of attention to what we say.
I understand that off-road vehicles account for about 8.5% of the diesel vehicles in the European Union. Commissioner, it is within your and the Council's powers to at least take a balanced position on this and to achieve the aim over a longer term so that we do not hurt a lot of people on the way.
That is what I support. I will certainly be voting against this recommendation tomorrow. I, along with the people I represent, will take great delight in voting against it. I hope it is defeated because then in the longer term you will come back with a proposal that represents the common sense view of everyone in this European Union, and not just those with purist ideals who do not have to face the consequences of imposing their ideals on others."@en1
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