Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-03-30-Speech-2-010"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2004-03-30"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreements with Central America and the Andean Community2
dcterms:Language	"nl"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20040330.1.2-010"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2004-03-30-Speech-2-0112
lpv:speaker	lp:Margrietus van den Berg2
lpv:spokenAs	vice-chair; PES (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 unknown; Partij van de Arbeid (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 vice-chair; Committee on Development and Cooperation (2002-01-22--2004-07-19)3 member; Members from the European Parliament to the Joint Parliamentary Assembly of the Agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union (ACP-EU) (2002-02-06--2004-07-19)3 substitute; AFCO (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 member; Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America and Mexico (2002-02-07--2004-07-19)3
lpv:translated text	". Mr President, the Commission's two proposals have to do with political dialogue and cooperation agreements rather than with an association agreement. That is why we regret the lack, in these proposals, of attention to an integrated economic and social development strategy, which, needless to say, is what that region deserves. First of all, a partnership-oriented agreement on cooperation with the Andes countries can help defuse the explosive political and social situation in the region. I would mention Columbia as a case in point. Over the past fifteen years, more than two million people have been driven out of their homes in that country, and there is an enormous humanitarian need. We need to step up our efforts in order to find a solution, with political means, for the armed conflicts, and to restore peace and social justice. The social situation in the Andes countries deserves more attention. Many of their inhabitants are still living in abject poverty. Two extremes: in Columbia, the so-called richest country, a quarter of the population has to manage on less than USD 2 a day. In Ecuador, the region's poorest country, this percentage is even higher than 50%. In the Central American countries, on average, a third of the population has to live on less than USD 2 a day. In Nicaragua, only four years ago, 10% of the poorest Nicaraguans accounted for less than 1% of total consumption, while 10% of that country's richest inhabitants took up more than half of total consumption. Malnutrition has been a serious problem for years in those countries, and it has got even worse in Guatemala. In the political dialogue, the Commission remains focused on the governments and their machinery. That is necessary, but it is, in fact, of huge importance also to involve the region's parliaments and civil society in the dialogue. This will benefit human rights, democracy and transparency more than if we focus only on diplomatic channels. Consequently, the EU should not only broaden the scope of the political dialogue by adding more partners, but should also complement it by integrating social and economic strategy as a priority."@en1

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