Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-12-13-Speech-3-360"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2000-12-13"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Precautionary principle2
dcterms:Language	"nl"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20001213.15.3-360"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2000-12-13-Speech-3-3612
lpv:speaker	lp:Dorette Corbey2
lpv:spokenAs	substitute; Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy (1999-07-22--2002-01-14)3 unknown; Partij van de Arbeid (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 substitute; Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee (1999-10-08--2002-01-14)3 member; PES (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, the precautionary principle is gaining more ground in the international Treaties. Nevertheless, it remains a source of confusion. The message, in short, is: if in doubt, do not do it. Doubt has now been cast upon virtually everything, and that would mean that nothing is possible any more. That is why the Commission’s clarifications are welcomed and why I am very impressed with Mrs Patrie’s report. She has done sterling work and I would like to congratulate her on it. A clear distinction needs to be drawn between precaution and prudence. Precaution is applicable in situations where science cannot provide a conclusive answer. It is suspected that a certain substance presents a risk, but no proof exists. Prudence is called for in situations where the risks are known. In those situations, a safety margin is imposed as a precautionary measure. The precautionary principle is a political response to the risks within society. We must avoid unknown risks. The precautionary principle must also apply to products and substances which are already available and in use, as well as to production methods. I am in favour of the precautionary principle, but I would like to mention one area of concern. I sometimes have the feeling that reference is made to the precautionary principle all the time, whether appropriate or not. There is no such thing as absolute scientific certainty about new substances or products, nor can there ever be. The present situation is taken as a point of departure and that leads to conservatism and resistance to anything new. In this way, we are distancing ourselves from the United States and large sections of the rest of the world. That may be the case and so be it, but worse still is that the precautionary principle can produce a whole generation of political cowards, a generation which passes the buck and does not dare to take any decisions out of precaution. It leads to the scientification of a policy without ever reaching consensus, for science is unable to offer that either. The precautionary principle is therefore a valuable and important principle, but we must aim to use it more sparingly."@en1

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