Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-03-14-Speech-2-057"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2000-03-14"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Cocoa and chocolate products2
dcterms:Language	"nl"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20000314.4.2-057"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2000-03-14-Speech-2-0582
lpv:speaker	lp:Jules Maaten2
lpv:spokenAs	member; Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 unknown; Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; Delegation for relations with the Member States of ASEAN, South-east Asia and the Republic of Korea (1999-09-29--2002-01-14)3 substitute; ECON (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 member; ELDR (1999-07-20--2002-03-06)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, the average citizen who hears about this debate on the chocolate directive will lick their lips at the thought of feasting on all kinds of delicacies. After all, chocolate is also considered a stimulant, unfortunately. Even as a new member of this Parliament, I am feeling the strain of the lengthy discussions on this topic and I cannot shake off the impression that chocolate has generated anything but a pleasurable experience in this Parliament. This agony will come to an end today. There are many interested parties in this discussion: the cocoa producers, the producers of vegetable fats, non-governmental organisations, chocolate producers and many more. They are all interesting in their own way, but most interesting of all is the consumer, in my opinion. The most important principle is that of the consumer’s freedom of choice. We politicians need to show some prudence in this respect. After all, there is no accounting for taste. The European Parliament cannot and should not prescribe a harmonised euro taste. As far as we are concerned, there is no need for warnings in flashing neon letters on the front of chocolate packaging. After all, chocolate is not exactly a product like cigarettes. There are, of course, other interests which need to be taken into consideration. For example, we need to be aware of the precarious situation of the countries where the ingredients for chocolate originate. Prudence is called for once again. After all, there are conflicting interests involved. The countries that Ivory Coast exports cocoa to also import other competing ingredients from countries such as Mali and Burkina Faso. The Council’s common position as it is now before us attempts to accommodate all these interests. We feel that it is lacking in one or two areas. The best that can be said of this compromise is that none of the parties involved have been indulged completely. There are no winners, but there are no losers either. Most members of the Liberal Group can tolerate this precarious balance. We therefore support the common position and believe that the directive should be adopted as soon as possible. Let us proceed with the order of the day and put chocolate to its intended use, namely enjoyment."@en1

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