Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-02-12-Speech-3-265"
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"en.20030212.9.3-265"2
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"Mr President, we are discussing an important matter. Every year 100 000 women die of complications during or following pregnancy, the overwhelming majority of them in developing countries. Very much larger numbers are involved when you include people suffering from sexually-transmitted diseases such as HIV and AIDS. This programme is about the whole range of problems. The EU wants to do something about this urgent state of affairs.
The programme is geared, therefore, to the treatment and prevention of disease and infection, the reduction of maternal mortality and the prevention of abortion. In the considerations you can read and I quote: 'schemes to promote sterilisation or abortion and improper methods for testing contraceptives in developing countries will not be eligible for support under this regulation'. Commissioner Nielson guaranteed to the Commission once again in a letter that these are not included in the policy of the Commission. Some fear misuse of the scheme but I cannot read the report as promoting abortion. It may not be possible to give a watertight guarantee that it will never happen but it can be stated with certainty that the regulation itself is aimed at prevention – prevention of sexually-transmitted diseases, prevention of unwanted pregnancies and prevention of abortion. It is a sensitive issue, with opinions divided even in our group, and the text that has been produced is a compromise. It is not exactly as our group would have drawn it up ourselves but we have managed to reach a reasonable compromise, based on the action programmes signed in Cairo by all the Member States of the European Union.
Examination of the problem clearly shows that it cannot be solved solely by emphasising rights, provisions and resources. An important part of it has to do with mentality and taking responsibility, which is why I am pleased that the point of view of our group has been given a much better place in the text to be voted on tomorrow and by that I mean that there is more emphasis on the importance of education, information, counselling and personal responsibility and the special role of the family. The text clearly states that there will be no support for the promotion of sterilisation and abortion. We have negotiated to reach a solution quickly so as not to have to stop programmes unnecessarily. It is unfortunate that the Commission was rather late with its proposal, which meant that we had to complete the whole process so quickly. That did not make it easier.
As far as the budget is concerned, I am pleased with the compromises reached on the amendments and I hope that they can also be accepted tomorrow in order to give the budgetary authority the last word. I assume that we can count on the full support of the Council and the Commission after this long process of negotiation. I would like to thank all those who cooperated with us in such a constructive way."@en1
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