Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-09-28-Speech-4-137"
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"en.20060928.23.4-137"2
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".
Mr President, the importance of political, economic and cultural dialogue between Europe and Asia cannot, of course, be underestimated, and I am still surprised that the two major groups in this House have nevertheless decided not to bring in a resolution following on from the ASEM summit in Helsinki on 10/11 September. The Socialist Group in the European Parliament is in fact making a great deal of sense in what it has just put forward, and it is sad that we have not been able to express it in a resolution.
This dialogue does of course give priority to economic cooperation, of which I am very much in favour as a means of further strengthening economic ties – in the shape of both trade and investment – between the European Union and Asia, which has enormous economic potential, with South Korea, for example, having achieved impressive results. Fifty years ago, it was still a developing country, but now some 97% of its people between the ages of 25 and 34 have completed at least secondary schooling – the highest percentage in the industrialised world. Investment in education brings an abundant return in the shape of an expanding and flourishing economy.
Our economic programmes need to be extended to include the promotion of contacts between, and joint ventures involving, small and medium-sized businesses in the European Union and Asia, as well as cooperation between such bodies as local authorities and universities. I also rejoice to see that the Commission is now seeking to give serious consideration to the possibility of concluding bilateral trade agreements with Asian countries, certainly with Singapore, and possibly also with Thailand. You might, of course, also consider such countries as Malaysia and Indonesia in the absence of any global trade agreement. I see that as a good way of moving forwards.
If, though, you are going to have dealings with Asia, you cannot, of course, consider the economy in isolation from other matters, and it is, to my mind, unthinkable that this House should keep silent in the face of the recent
in Thailand, where, on 19 September, a military body calling itself the ‘Council for Democratic Reform’ overthrew the democratically elected government, one about which we may well have had serious doubts, but, even so, if you want to be rid of that sort of government, a military coup is not the answer. We see, then, that Thailand, a country that really was on the way to being a stable democracy of the kind that would be an example to the world and certainly to Asia, has taken a step backwards.
The Parliament buildings and the law courts have been closed, foreign television stations can no longer operate, and the local channels, under military control, are broadcasting patriotic songs. Even the weblogs of people in Thailand have been shut down and subjected to censorship. It is clear that there is good cause to be very worried about this, and the European Union, in dealing with this state of affairs, must put democratic values first and foremost. I therefore find our treatment of Taiwan highly incorrect.
Finally, human rights must also feature in this sort of dialogue. There are indeed disturbing things going on in the Philippines and in Myanmar, and I am glad that these are being talked about. I do, however, want to congratulate the Commission – and, in this instance, the Council too – on the ASEM summit. We have, in the past, taken a highly critical line, particularly of the Council’s stance and of its failure to be present at this summit. This time, though, there was something of an improvement, and I hope that that will continue. I wish the Commission success in its efforts to this end."@en1
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