Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-01-16-Speech-4-089"
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"en.20030116.4.4-089"2
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"Madam President, this report comes before the European Parliament at a time of growing concern around the world about the effects of the European Union's deals with third world countries. Not least, the World Wildlife Fund has been very vocal in its condemnation of these deals. I am encouraged that even in this Parliament, just one month ago, over 100 Members voted against the Senegal deal. To my astonishment I even agree with my own Foreign Office, for the first time ever. Even they recognise that these deals are just not working.
The report is very defensive in tone. It claims that EU fishermen 'are not pirates'. As to compliance with all the rules, that claim is distinctly at variance with the current report from the Court of Auditors. What is most disturbing is that the rapporteur and the Commissioner seem to be arguing that if we did not take up these fishing rights some other nation would and that somehow that might be even worse. Even if that were true – and I would not expect to see such a puerile argument – the fact must be that two wrongs do not make a right. Let us remind ourselves of what those wrongs are.
These deals are causing environmental devastation to less developed countries which, in biological terms, is like setting fire to the Serengeti. This is a form of European Union imperialism and it is denying development to these third world countries which otherwise could benefit their own economies. Furthermore these deals are morally repugnant, in that they directly and indirectly cause the deaths of hundreds of indigenous black African fishermen every year.
What this report asks us to do is to close our eyes, when in fact people are increasingly beginning to open their eyes. That is why we should reject this report. I suspect that there will still be a majority in favour, but be aware that people are waking up and will not tolerate these deals for very much longer."@en1
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