Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-09-03-Speech-3-189"
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"en.20030903.8.3-189"2
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"Mr President, I wish to begin by thanking the rapporteur and saying that the Group of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party supports the report. Even though we may have different views on certain parts of it, we should be able to agree that this survey is useful and significant.
I should nonetheless have liked to have seen more practical examples. Mr Cornillet, I wonder for what purpose we should have this report if we did not single out a number of countries. If the EU is to set an example to the world, we cannot put blinkers on and not put our own house in order. What credibility would we then have in the surrounding world? The question to the Commission and the Council is, of course: what practical measures are you taking to tackle the problems?
I wish to comment on three areas. The first is the EU’s and the Member States’ asylum policy, which deserves to be criticised. There is a political anxiety whereby all the countries apparently feel able to compromise fundamental legal principles. Naturally, we must put an end to human smuggling and prevent the asylum system from being misused, but we cannot send refugees back to be tortured or ill-treated. We must give all children who find their way to the EU the chance of a life of dignity. There are many deficiencies in this area, including in my own country.
The second area is prison conditions. We have overcrowded prisons, extensive violence and increasing problems involving ex-prisoners’ readjustment to society. Europe must have prisons that are fit for human beings.
The third area concerns a sensitive but important issue. The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights states clearly and unambiguously that ‘[t]he freedom and pluralism of the media shall be respected’. I agree with Mr Eurig Wyn on this matter and wonder if it is perhaps an irony of fate that it is the Italian Presidency that is to get the Member States to agree upon a constitution that Italy, through its prime minister’s monopoly on the media, clearly and unambiguously violates. We cannot have this situation. I want, in conclusion, to ask you, Commissioner, what you are doing about this sensitive matter. The situation in the Italian media is the whole of Europe’s responsibility, including yours, Mr Vitorino."@en1
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