Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2013-01-16-Speech-3-617-000"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2013-01-16"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Interim agreement establishing a framework for an EC-Eastern and Southern Africa States Economic Partnership Agreement - Implementation of IEPA between the European Community and Eastern and Southern Africa States in light of the current situation in Zimbabwe (debate)2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20130116.43.3-617-000"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2013-01-16-Speech-3-618-0002
lpv:speaker	lp:Paul Murphy2
lpv:spoken text	"Mr President, it is clear that we are dealing with two very different approaches in this debate. On the one hand we have the European Commission here at least in spirit, the Council and the grand coalition of the EPP, the majority of the Social Democrats and the Liberals who want to convince critics like me that this interim agreement is the beginning of a success story that will lead to the conclusion of a full economic partnership agreement in the future and will be the recipe for improved regional integration. I have to say that you do not succeed in convincing me that an interim agreement with only four out of the sixteen eastern and southern African countries that were originally involved in negotiations for an EPA represents a meaningful step towards regional integration. In essence these EPAs are free trade agreements which completely disregard the economic and social development needs of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. The approach by the Commission is a very rigid and inflexible one in relation to the tariff elimination schemes and other items. This is very far from applying policy coherence for development and respect for human rights in the external policies of the EU. Instead in reality it reflects a neo-colonial attitude. In relation to Zimbabwe, the situation for trade unionists, the political opposition and human rights defenders remains repressive. Reports from human rights organisations express serious concerns about a possible further deterioration of the situation in the period leading up to the constitutional referendum and general elections announced for 2013. I am particularly worried about the human and workers’ rights situation in the extractive sector and in the Marange diamond fields which are estimated to hold one fifth of the world’s diamond reserves. The diamond trade has played a dirty role and fuelled conflict in Zimbabwe’s violent past. This enormous wealth present in Zimbabwe and in so many other African countries that is now enriching the capitalist class and the political elite needs to be taken out of their hands. Instead it should be brought under democratic control of the people, and run and managed in the interests of the countries’ social and economic development in an environmentally sustainable way."@en1
lpv:spokenAs	member_of_the_bureau; EUL/NGL (2012-01-23--2014-06-30)3 unknown; Socialist Party (2011-04-01--2014-06-30)3 substitute; Delegation to the EU-Kazakhstan, EU-Kyrgyzstan and EU-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committees, and for relations with Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Mongolia (2012-02-29--2014-06-30)3 substitute; PETI (2012-01-19--2014-06-30)3 member; INTA (2012-01-19--2014-06-30)3 substitute; EMPL (2012-01-19--2014-06-30)3 member; Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia (2011-04-06--2014-06-30)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"(The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149(8))"1 "Paul Murphy,"1 "on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group"1
lpv:videoURI	<go to Events_and_structure europarl>2

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