Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-09-03-Speech-3-191"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20030903.8.3-191"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:translated text |
"Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, in both his explanatory statement and in the speech he made to this plenary, the rapporteur informed us that it was not his intention to draw up a report presenting an exhaustive framework of breaches of fundamental rights in all countries of the European Union. The report does, however, in most of its 150 long articles, give in to this temptation, straying from its stated intentions and boundaries and in some cases serving as a political judgment on the Member States. Such a role does not fall within the sphere of the European Parliament’s competence, as we know, except in serious and specific situations that could trigger the sanctions set out in Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union. Are any of the Member States really in such a situation? I think not.
No one should conclude from my words that I am any less concerned about or attentive to protecting fundamental rights or to fighting against the various forms of discrimination. Let us not forget that in the fields of combating terrorism, asylum policy and immigration, police and judicial cooperation, conditions of detention and many others, these are, in political terms, extremely sensitive matters. Today, in stark contrast to the generous nature of the policies that have traditionally defined democratic systems, sophisticated forms of international crime and terrorism exist and only with a considerable sense of responsibility and balance will it be possible effectively to fulfil the requirements that the complex current situation sets for us all.
Mr President, I come from an ancient nation that prides itself on having been the first in Europe to abolish the death penalty and to abolish slavery and life imprisonment. For this very reason, I find it hard to accept the criticism made in comments about supposedly racist behaviour or behaviour involving sexual discrimination which, at the very least, betray an ignorance of the facts. Furthermore, I must inform you that the Portuguese authorities are continuing to modernise their prison system and to make it more humane, without harbouring the illusion, of course, that they can do overnight everything that has not been done to date. This, then, is my response to the report’s main observation about Portugal, in the certainty that future documents will reflect, and with this I shall conclude, an improvement of the current and future situations in terms of the security of our citizens, and in the living and working conditions and also the safety of prisoners themselves."@en1
|
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples