Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-11-14-Speech-2-442"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2006-11-14"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:The European Union's Generalised System of Preferences (debate)2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20061114.41.2-442"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2006-11-14-Speech-2-4432
lpv:speaker	lp:Sajjad Karim2
lpv:spoken text	"Mr President, the GSP scheme was designed to help the poorest and most vulnerable in the world trade their way out of poverty. There is not a fixed list of countries that fit into that category. Where the GSP is a success, a country may graduate to a new relationship with the EU. However, not all movement is upward: some countries, through circumstances entirely beyond their control, may now be in a worse position than when the scheme was renewed. Pakistan is such a country. Despite the backing of this House, Pakistan was denied GSP+ status by the Council, at a cost of 300 000 jobs and GBP 40 million a year. Tragically, less than six months after the GSP scheme came into force, Pakistan and much of Pakistan-administered Kashmir was devastated by an earthquake that the World Health Organisation claims eclipsed the tsunami in terms of destruction and human suffering. The major impact of the earthquake in the north-east of the region caused large-scale displacement of Pakistan’s skilled and unskilled labour force. They have traditionally provided a significant part of the workforce for the whole of Pakistani industry, notably in textiles. Many were left homeless, without spouses and with children to care for. Over one year later, they have been unable to return to paid work because they have been waiting for financial grants to rebuild their homes. As a result industrial wages have increased, driving up the cost of production and dramatically effecting Pakistan’s competitiveness. Whilst the EU is always very generous in terms of the aid we offer to those countries in need, our pockets are not bottomless. We must revise the GPS in order to make sure that we not only help the poor trade their way out of poverty, but also help the hopeless trade their way out of the rubble of disaster."@en1
lpv:spokenAs	substitute; Temporary Committee on the alleged use of European countries by the CIA for the transport and illegal detention of prisoners (2006-01-19--2007-02-14)3 substitute; AFET (2004-07-30--2007-01-14)3 member; DROI (2004-07-21--2007-01-14)3 unknown; Liberal Democrat Party (2004-07-20--2008-01-09)3 member; ALDE (2004-07-20--2007-12-11)3 substitute; REGI (2004-07-22--2007-01-14)3 substitute; Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia and the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) (2004-09-15--2007-03-13)3 member; INTA (2004-07-21--2007-01-14)3 member; Delegation for relations with the Gulf States, including Yemen (2004-09-15--2007-03-13)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"Sajjad Karim,"1 "on behalf of the ALDE Group"1

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