Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-09-03-Speech-3-252"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20030903.10.3-252"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:translated text |
"Mr President, Commissioner, first of all, I should like to extend a warm thanks to Mrs Morgantini and Mr Lannoye for their interesting reports, but I would like to make some observations. I should even like to shift the focus in some cases. For example, Liberals believe that fair trade, in particular, is one of the best ways of fighting poverty. Needless to say, this does not mean that we must impose our diktat on the developing countries. The WTO forums offer the opportunity, in joint consultation, of reaching agreements that are fair for all partners. We therefore expect Cancún to create better world trade conditions.
Something that the developed countries certainly have to offer is knowledge. International companies have extensive know-how, which they can pass on to their partners in the developing countries. As my party has already highlighted in an amendment, contributing this know-how results in increased economic activity, which promotes a considerable diversification of products.
It is also to be welcomed that many businesses commit to improving education and health infrastructures for the local population. This is with good reason. It is also in their interest to have a healthy and educated labour force, but this must be stimulated. I should specifically like to call for greater involvement of industry in development cooperation, provided this is done according to the normal criteria – in other words, wages must be reasonable and child labour must be banned.
I also think that too little attention is being paid to the trade options at regional level. There are quite a few sticking points there too. Water management is a perfect example of this. Worldwide, there are some 260 reservoirs that are shared by various countries. Over the past 50 years, some 1 800 conflicts, armed or not, as the case may be, have broken out over these. Mutual consultation and sound agreements could have prevented these. Access to drinking water and proper sanitary provisions are fundamental rights of the population. That goes without saying.
My group calls for sound cooperation between local and national governments and the private sector, and this is where the European Union must take the lead and have a highly stimulating effect. My group does object to the rapporteur pointing an accusatory finger at the World Bank and the IMF. We emphasise that the grant of aid to developing countries must be commensurate with the needs of the country in question, and have tabled amendments to this effect. Liberals believe that the condition for partnership must also apply to the water fund that Mr Prodi proposed. We deem participation of the countries concerned highly important. With regard to the previously mentioned water fund, I should like to repeat that the EP's lack of involvement in this proposal was a missed opportunity. We therefore demand full involvement in its implementation. After all, this is the best guarantee for democratic legitimacy."@en1
|
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples