Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-10-23-Speech-2-331-000"
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"en.20121023.18.2-331-000"2
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".
Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, we have seen that as soon as dual-use items feature on the agenda, the telephones in the German Economics Ministry light up like Christmas trees. That is when the interventions start, along with the attempts to convince colleagues that they should not be in favour of ex ante controls. In any discussion of this issue, we must be absolutely clear what we are dealing with. We are not talking about office chairs, despite what the previous speaker claims. We are talking about civilian goods which can be used for military purposes. We are talking about dangerous chemicals, and we are also talking about software. Indeed, it was software exported from Europe which, one year ago – and perhaps even now – was used to kill people in the Middle East. It was used in neighbour countries on the opposite shore of the Mediterranean by those who committed human rights abuses and persecuted, tortured and in some cases murdered human rights activists.
With that in mind, surely we can discuss once again whether ex ante approval of these exports is possible. Does it really make a difference, in terms of the bureaucratic effort, whether notification takes place beforehand rather than 30 days later? That does not create more red tape, but it does create rather more security. By that, I mean more security for people who might otherwise suffer as a result of the export of these items and suffer simply so that a few European companies can increase their profits. I believe it is important to ensure, in this House, that Europe’s industry can export its products, but we need effective controls and above all, we need ex ante controls. These are the reasons why we Social Democrats are so keen to ensure that we move in the right direction.
I understand the Commission’s position and I also understand the Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats). You want a regime that is swift and problem-free. However, the problems that this will cause are serious enough to outweigh any of the concerns that have been expressed here."@en1
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