Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-09-23-Speech-1-061"
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"en.20020923.5.1-061"2
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"Mr President, I want to begin by thanking Mr Evans for the well executed piece of work we have come to expect of him. For me, as a liberal, it is always a pleasure to work alongside Mr Evans.
There are no issues as momentous for Europe as those of how we deal with refugee and asylum policy, of how we integrate those who are now already within the EU and of how we link asylum policy with the increasing need for an immigrant work force. Our own part of the world, with its ageing population, has a real need for new people. Our internal security is also at issue, of course. Terrorism must not be given free rein within the EU and, on that question, we all of course have a responsibility.
It should be self-evident that we need a common approach to these policy areas within the EU. How, then, do matters look in reality? I know what the solemn declarations say, but I think that the reality is rather different. In quite a few of the EU Member States, for example, national, instead of common, measures have been taken. We are familiar with the debate in Denmark, and we have heard the tenor of the debate in Germany. For the most part, it has been about an impregnable Europe concerned with keeping people out, staving them off, chasing them out and coming down harder on them.
It is against that background that Mr Evans’s report is so important. A balance must be struck between security and international obligations to afford protection. The message is clear. An unrestricted asylum system based on the Rule of Law is needed throughout the EU in which internal security is not protected at the expense of citizens’ rights. A common immigration policy is required in the EU so that the asylum system can be made more relaxed. In this area, the EU can in actual fact learn from the United States, despite the fact that the United States has so often been criticised in this Chamber. A large part of the growth and economic development in the United States in recent years has come about on the basis of a far-sighted integration policy. ‘Better a foreigner in the United States than in Europe’, as someone once put it.
The objective of the open coordination method in the field of asylum policy must be that all countries shall fulfil obligations and endeavour to bring about improved standards and greater security, and that is a good thing.
I am also grateful for the fact that the rapporteur and the committee have further strengthened their demands that the Rule of Law be applied and for the fact that the candidate countries have been included in the cooperation. That is a proposal from those of us in the Group of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party. I think it incredibly important for us to state that there should be no possibility of anyone’s being extradited in such a way that they risk the death penalty.
To Mrs Klamt, I would say that cooperation and coordination are to be commended within the sphere of asylum too, but that the objective must be that of common legislation. That is something with which I agree. At present, people are herded around Europe like animals. That is not worthy of a Union based on humanitarianism, tolerance and the Rule of Law. I therefore give my wholehearted support to Mr Evans’s report. We must never forget, however, that the Rule of Law must not be sacrificed in the fight against terrorism. Terrorism will triumph if we sacrifice the Rule of Law, personal integrity and the protection of human rights."@en1
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