Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-11-18-Speech-2-131"
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"en.20031118.5.2-131"2
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"Mr President, Vice-President of the Commission, it is indeed very important for our fellow citizens that we are able to offer them the best possible security measures in connection with all forms of transport – air, land and sea.
Today, our debate concerns sea transport, and I will of course take the liberty of offering my sincere congratulations to the rapporteur. With regard to maritime transport security, passenger safety is of vital importance to us, but it is also important to take account of the transport of goods. A number of ships do indeed transport dangerous goods and, therefore, constitute perfect targets for terrorism. It has also been seen, even independently of any problem of terrorism, that simple natural disasters could have catastrophic consequences.
Everything that contributes to better protection must, therefore, be welcomed and, once again, very important arrangements are being proposed to us, which I support: a national monitoring centre for security at sea and increased staff training, not forgetting the adequate equipping of ports – so many measures for which we have called many times in this House. That is what I think is important, even if I agree with my fellow MEPs in asking for these arrangements to be applied in a balanced and harmonious way, without compromising the actual activity of the ports.
Clear definitions of each party’s responsibilities are also crucial, which is why I have to tackle the issue of the responsibility of the Member States. Are the latter prepared to make maritime security a major theme? Which are the countries that have so far transposed the directives voted on in this House? Which countries genuinely monitor the application of our European regulations? What point have we reached in preparing the European map of ports of refuge? Which states have progressed, and which are dragging their heels? I know that, where France is concerned, arrangements have finally been made along these lines. What is the position, and even the decision, of the Council on putting in place the European coastguards I have been requesting for a long time?
If another disaster or accident were to occur, would Europe still be incriminated, by having helped make it possible, or will the Member States finally face up to their responsibilities?
Commissioner, you have in fact completed a piece of work – and a terrific job, at that – in close partnership with the European Parliament. It is time to have this recognised and openly and publicly to tell the truth about blocking by individual nations, about delays concerning what is and is not applied and about what the Council of Ministers really wants."@en1
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