Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-06-14-Speech-3-212"
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"en.20060614.17.3-212"2
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".
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the European Union is founded on a community based on the indivisible and universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity.
By coming together, our countries decided to uphold and to promote these values. Each political group has decided to table a resolution to follow up the statements we have just heard; I personally have drawn one up on behalf of the Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats.
Almost every day we see evidence that the fight against intolerance is far from won. I would have preferred to deal with this subject in a different manner. It is appalling that we still have to point out publicly that racism in our societies is intolerable. Numerous racist, xenophobic, anti-Semitic and homophobic attacks have taken place in recent times in our countries, and that is unacceptable and intolerable.
While as citizens we must remain vigilant, as elected representatives we must stand firm and vigorously condemn this behaviour; to stay quiet would be tantamount to accepting it. We must also adopt laws to protect our fellow citizens – political will is crucial in this area – and countries that have not laid down anti-racist and anti-discrimination laws must do so.
I shall repeat what I said yesterday in this House and what I have been saying for some months in committee. The Council must immediately stop blocking the framework decision against racism and xenophobia, otherwise fine words and good intentions will serve no purpose. Our respective governments must offer an example and move forward in this fight for equality, respect for others and tolerance.
As for the current situation, it is unfortunately necessary to point out that we are seeing a rise in far-right parties in many of our countries. Although I personally am fully committed to this fight, I understand my group’s reasons for not signing the joint text: this text clings on to ideological positions that have become obsolete. These countries will not be moved forward along the path of rigorous respect for the Union’s values by our condemning any particular current situation.
It is unacceptable to confuse individual cases of aggression perpetrated in Member States fighting against racism and homophobia with extreme positions openly adopted by some governments. We must distinguish between these situations. It is dangerous to lump everything together. We must separate this issue from the debate relating to any particular motive. The fight against racism, xenophobia and homophobia is not a matter for the left or for the right; that is something we must accept. That is why the joint resolution that will be put to the vote tomorrow seems to me to be a balanced compromise.
I shall end by saying that I very much regret that Parliament is reluctant to speak with one voice on this subject. This is an opportunity missed, since I know that this is a fight that all of us here in Parliament share in."@en1
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