Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-09-13-Speech-1-073"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20040913.6.1-073"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spoken text |
".
Mr President, honourable Members, we have a common interest in keeping our seas safe and preventing environmental catastrophes of this kind.
I would, of course, never contradict the Commission's statement – probably supported by all institutions – that we should learn from accidents of this kind. We should also do everything to prevent this continuing to be only the tip of the iceberg. We also know that there is a lot of money involved in wasted shipments; but I do not accept that the Commission should take the blame for everything that has happened in this particular case. It is not the responsibility of the Commission alone. We have a responsibility, we will accept that to the full; but in this case, I repeat, the problem should have been prevented at source. It is not entirely a legal problem or to do with something missing in the legislation, but it is a combination of illegal actions and legal and administrative problems, which delayed a solution until it was too late. We have to concentrate on implementing environmental legislation to the full, thus avoiding problems of this kind.
Of course, we will see if there is anything to be learned from this. Can we act in a better way, can we prevent this happening in the future? It is also very clear from the existing legislation where the responsibility lies. It is not that this case opens up enormous gaps in the existing legislation, but rather how the legislation is being interpreted, implemented and enforced in different Member States. The issue was raised about the ‘polluter pays’ principle, which is one of the fundamental principles in EU legislation and in EU environmental policy. But in this case the pollution has taken place outside the EU where, of course, the Commission has no competence to apply EU law. We have to get the facts right.
I hope this discussion will prove fruitful for the future, because it is in our common interest to make sure that this does not happen again and that we learn lessons and can keep our seas safe. It is very important that enforcement is also carried out, to make sure that the signal goes out to all actors in cases like this.
Thank you for a good debate."@en1
|
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples