Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-09-16-Speech-4-011"
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"en.20040916.1.4-011"2
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"Mr President, Commissioner, this debate is a victory for democracy, and is entirely appropriate here today in the European Parliament. This is an issue that concerns not only Portugal and women; it is also an issue for men and women throughout the European Union. It also concerns the Commission, the Council and Parliament.
When it refused the Dutch vessel entry into its territorial waters, the Portuguese Government breached not only international law, but also Community law and the Convention on the Law of the Sea. Citizens of Europe and defenders of women’s rights have been prevented from entering a European country and treated as though they are criminals. The Commission and Parliament cannot and must not remain indifferent when men and women belonging to a non-governmental organisation from one Member State, invited by an NGO from another Member State, with the aim of jointly promoting awareness-raising activities on sexual and reproductive health, have been compared to drug traffickers, illegal fishermen or smugglers. The Commission and Parliament cannot and must not remain indifferent.
The Portuguese Government cited compliance with national law and protection of public health, yet which Portuguese laws were breached, when and how? The law-breakers here were not the women’s organisations, but the Portuguese Government, which violated women’s rights. There is also no substance to the alleged danger to public health, since no one aboard the vessel was carrying an infectious disease. The Lisbon government made its decision, an incorrect decision, based on assumptions and hearsay in order to intimidate women who support voluntary termination of pregnancy. The Portuguese Government prevented the free movement of European citizens within the European area, by means of deliberate obstruction, in order to prevent an awkward debate for the ruling coalition. Stranger still, while the vessel was in Portuguese waters, it was watched at all times by two Portuguese Navy corvettes. Should Portuguese warships be used to intimidate citizens who are peacefully and courageously promoting their causes? In a democracy there is no such thing as the crime of expressing your opinion.
What happened in Portugal with the ‘Women on Waves’ ship must not be allowed to happen again and must not go unpunished. If it does go unpunished, it will set a worrying precedent that may lead to restrictions of the rights, freedoms and safeguards that belong to all of us, the citizens of Europe."@en1
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