Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-01-15-Speech-3-194"
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"en.20030115.11.3-194"2
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"Mr President, the Northern Dimension is the northern equivalent of the European Union-Mediterranean Partnership. Although we speak of the north, it also refers to the EU’s eastern external dimension.
There are two seas in the north, which have to be protected from catastrophe. The Baltic Sea, which will soon be virtually an internal sea of the EU, is the world’s most polluted sea. As we speak it is frozen over, which illustrates how problematic the natural conditions are there. An oil disaster on the scale of the
wreck would be devastating. The Barents Sea, on the other hand, is threatened by nuclear waste and the exploitation of natural resources on the seabed. As a gas pipeline is being built from the Barents Sea to Germany we will also need investment from Member States to prevent environmental damage resulting from gas production.
Our group is pleased with the resolution the political groups have together agreed upon here. It sets forth the key issues that the Commission must take account of when it drafts the action plan for the period 2004–2006.
Unfortunately, the countries to hold the presidency this year have not included a mention of the development of the Northern Dimension in the Council’s action programme. Greece and Italy, both countries in the Mediterranean region, are failing in their duty, as countries to hold the presidency, to represent the interests of the EU as a whole.
Something that is of strategic importance is cooperation on energy. The EU is dependent for energy on gas imported from the east. The intention is to meet the entire increase in the EU’s energy needs over the next few decades with gas from the east. Investment in the energy sector will improve the reliability of the supply of gas and ensure there is shared responsibility for the sustainable exploitation of energy resources.
Important areas of cooperation also include western investment in environmental protection, nuclear safety and transport infrastructure. Some pilot projects have been set up in order to solve Russia’s environmental problems. These are positive steps in the right direction in a situation in which we are being called upon to compensate for Russian capitalism’s lack of responsibility for nature and people.
The Northern Dimension is furthermore concerned with the fight against poverty in the EU’s neighbouring regions. Civil society has been acting independently and we must ensure it is more involved in EU projects. NGOs are weapons in the struggle against bureaucracy both in the EU and in Russia.
The Northern Dimension motorcar today is being driven in too low a gear. The car is not an automatic, and Greece and Italy must therefore now change up to a higher gear. I agree with the criticism expressed here by Mr Suominen: the representative of the Greek Presidency should have been present here while we are speaking about the Northern Dimension. The area of responsibility of the country holding the presidency is not only the Mediterranean but also the other seas in the EU."@en1
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