Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-02-09-Speech-1-105"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2004-02-09"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Private and state undertakings in developing countries2
dcterms:Language	"nl"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20040209.7.1-105"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2004-02-09-Speech-1-1062
lpv:speaker	lp:Nelly Maes2
lpv:spokenAs	vice-chair; G/EFA (2002-01-08--2004-07-19)3 unknown; België Spirit (2002-01-08--2004-07-19)3 substitute; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 substitute; Delegation to the EU-Slovak Republic Joint Parliamentary Committee (2002-02-07--2004-04-30)3 member; Members from the European Parliament to the Joint Parliamentary Assembly of the Agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union (ACP-EU) (2002-02-06--2004-07-19)3 substitute; Committee on Development and Cooperation (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 member; Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the Modrow report is right to highlight a number of painful areas in the privatisation mania that has swept many developing countries. The nationalisation episode in the decolonisation era was followed by an episode of wild privatisations of undertakings, only for these often to become impoverished. Invariably, it was the political elite that pocketed the profits and placed these in foreign bank accounts during both eras. Invariably, too, Western multinationals acted as corrupted undertakings in order to lay their hands, for a song, on vital national industries such as mining and raw materials. When I visit Africa, I am often embarrassed on their behalf about their unethical behaviour, by the way, for example, in which the Zambian copper sector, with the closure of the mines, has dragged along with it an entire social fabric, an economic fabric which has shattered an entire country. I realise that the development of a country requires investments. However, can the European Union not play a more positive role so as to help create the conditions to ensure that the reforms in state-owned undertakings can progress in a more favourable sense for the sake of development? I am not calling for dogmatism but for true partnership. A poor country is often not equal to the financial power of a multinational whose budget is many times greater than that of that country itself. If even we are not able to enforce the ethical codes of conduct for undertakings, how can we expect those poor countries to do so? I join the rapporteur in calling for more attention and more resources to make the transition of small undertakings in the informal sector to the formal economy possible, and also for more resources for women, who are often active in this informal sector. They must have the first claim on aid, because their undertakings are probably the most direct way in which the fight against poverty in their country can be tackled."@en1

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