Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-02-10-Speech-2-042"
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"en.20040210.2.2-042"2
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"Mr President, the creation of a European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has never been so important. The recent SARS outbreak, the current threat of a biological terrorist attack and even the current Asian bird flu crisis illustrate the threat from disease in the global village that we live in today. The threat to Europe's health from the rapid spread of disease is real and present.
Every year 1.4 billion passengers fly on an international trip. Every one of them could pose a threat to global health security. If they were found to be carrying a new strain of influenza or SARS they could within a few hours unwittingly put the lives of millions at risk. Global warming threatens even Britain with diseases such as malaria, while diseases such as TB are already returning.
The correct response is not to turn our backs on the benefits of globalisation – we should not give up the opportunities presented by increases in trade and travel because of biological threats any more than for reasons of terrorism – but we need coordinated action. In today's world no one country can afford to go it alone. That is why Labour MEPs so firmly back these proposals for a European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
When it comes to tackling disease, Europe works. The European Commission was able to ban chicken imports from countries affected by the new strain of bird flu with immediate effect. Without the EU, it would have required an enormous effort to coordinate the actions of all 15 – and soon 25 – Member States. We need to strengthen that coordination and not weaken it through isolation. So I am pleased that Tory MEPs will also back this plan today. However, I wonder how they can square that with their own hostility to Europe and their policy of attacking the EU at every turn.
The centre will contribute to the improvement and strengthening of the prevention and monitoring of human diseases in the EU. Its technical work and research capabilities will be an asset, as will the work with the WHO. I agree that accessibility to information for the public is vital, and that is why the centre should have its own website to communicate its work and to publish its opinions.
This is one of the EU's success stories, and we should be celebrating its creation."@en1
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