Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-10-25-Speech-2-046"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20051025.4.2-046"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:translated text |
"Mr President, Commissioner, we discussed this problem as long ago as 12 April, when it was clear to this House that ministers were dragging their feet in putting protective measures in place against a possible flu pandemic. I have to admit that some progress has been made since then, and that may well be down to you pounding the table very hard. In any case, a number of Member States have taken the right sort of action. You told us a moment ago that all Member States have now presented plans. Whether those Member States have presented those plans, but have not disclosed what it is they have done, or have presented sound plans, is, of course, a different matter, and I would like to hear more about this.
The ministers discussed this last week as well, of course, when they concluded that stockpiling vaccines and antiviral drugs was a matter for the national level alone. This is, to my mind, an unwise decision, since bird flu is a cross-border problem
. In the event of a pandemic outbreak, there is no time for extensive consultation with countries that have done too little, to persuade them to take the necessary measures while there is yet time, while we cannot expect countries that are sufficiently prepared to suddenly make their supplies available. There is therefore a need for common action, and that, Commissioner, is where you come in.
First of all, we need emergency measures. At the moment, there is no public health risk, but if there was, you would need to be able to take action immediately, for example, in the shape of measures with regard to disinfection and quarantine at airports for flights from the affected areas or travel restrictions. I am not confident
that all 25 Member States will be taking those measures.
Finally, I think that there is a need, not only for national action, but also for common action, and I hope that the ministers will approve your proposals for a common fund. Mr Mulder, who is rapporteur for this in the Committee on Budgets, has suggested setting aside funds from the Solidarity Fund for this purpose, and I think that that is a sensible suggestion. Commissioner, if you pound the table even harder, then we will in any case be right behind you."@en1
|
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples