Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-11-16-Speech-2-035"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20041116.7.2-035"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spoken text |
".
I would like to thank all the Members of Parliament for their remarks on this very important matter. Let me start with the sensitive issue of China.
Mrs Gomes also asked about taxation of the arms trade. We are aware of the various suggestions made in that regard, including those by Member States of the European Union. However no concrete detailed proposals are currently being discussed within the European Union.
I would like to conclude by commenting on what Mr Romeva i Rueda said in his introduction. On the one hand he paid compliments to the presidency for the review of the Code of Conduct, but on the other hand he said it was not enough. In a way I agree that we should go further, and that this should not be the final step. It is indeed a first review and we should continue our efforts. I very much appreciate Parliament's strong commitment to this issue and the active role that Parliament has played.
Strong opinions have been expressed about human rights and other concerns, such as regional conflicts. It was stressed that the Council should not lift the arms embargo on China, with almost all the Members of Parliament present expressing the same sentiments. Mr Van Hecke mentioned the Dutch position. However, everyone knows that I am here not as a representative of the Dutch Government, but of the Council presidency. Nevertheless, the Dutch Government is facing a very critical Dutch Parliament, which is almost unanimously of the same opinion as this Parliament. That is also the case in other countries. I listened very closely to your remarks and share many of your concerns on this matter. These are currently also being voiced in the Council, and I must make it clear that even if this embargo is lifted, a restrictive EU export policy will be applied. It is important to be aware of that.
With regard to the Code of Conduct on Arms Exports, many Members of Parliament mentioned the issue of the Code's status and stressed the importance of it being legally binding. Mr Van Orden, on the other hand, mentioned the issue of judicial consequences and the possible increase of the role of judges, which is also under discussion in the Council. I understand the arguments but you must be aware that positions are divided in the Council. The content of the Code and how we implement it is of greater importance than its status, which would probably have no effect on the arms export policy of the individual Member States.
I agree with Mr Czarnecki, who stressed the importance of aspiring Member States applying the Code of Conduct. That is one of the reasons that the presidency organised a seminar to help these countries in that respect.
Mr Agnoletto stressed the importance of urging other countries – the Russian Federation and the US – to apply this Code. We are in regular contact with these countries, aiming to maximise cooperation in this field, thus making export policy more efficient.
Mr von Wogau raised the issue of differences in the interpretation of the criteria, which is indeed an important point. I agree and have already told Parliament that harmonisation of the application of the criteria is an important objective.
In another question, Mr Henin asked about post-shipment controls. As I stated in my initial remarks, post-shipment controls are essential to ensuring that arms go where they are meant to go and do not fall into the wrong hands. Unlike the US, the EU Member States do not apply such controls, at least not on a regular and systematic basis.
This issue has been identified as a priority in the Sixth EU Arms Export report. As a first step Member States will in the near future organise a meeting with US experts in order to be briefed on the US programme. On the basis of this briefing, Member States will have to decide how best to move forward this important issue both nationally and jointly.
There were also questions from Mr Romeva i Rueda and Mrs Gomes about the trade regulation on torture equipment. This draft regulation is at present being discussed in Council."@en1
|
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples