Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-03-10-Speech-3-047"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20040310.2.3-047"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spoken text |
".
Mr President, this report represents a wide-ranging analysis of the problems facing Romania in its development to meet the high standards we demand for joining the European Union. The resolution clearly points out that much remains to be done in Romania for political criteria to be adhered to in full. The functioning of Parliament, the relationship with the executive and the judicial system and the overall functioning of the rule of law: all are questioned. This point involves many issues such as corruption, which is widespread in Romania, involving administrative officials, judges, politicians and in its sum undermines the functioning application of the rule of law.
In conclusion, the European Parliament is a true friend of Romania. This strongly worded report has been compiled by Members of the European Parliament across the political divide, from all Member States and with Romania's best interests in our hearts. Bucharest must act on the report's recommendations if Romania is to succeed in membership of the European Union. I hope and I believe that it will do just that.
This must be the reason why corruption in the area of international adoptions has continually been circumvented by special adoption commissions. The moratorium has been ignored and set aside, meaning that many children, even babies, identified as suitable for adoption by the government, signed off by the prime minister, have in reality been taken from suitable family settings by the authorities, against their will and disregarding the wishes of their foster families whose interest in adopting those same children was denied. I have written evidence of many of these cases and stand happy to show them to anyone who wishes to see them.
In contrast, my resolution also deals with the achievements of Romania in the economic field, where many structural reforms have been undertaken that we praise. But these must also and will need to be pursued most vigorously in the coming months and years. But we hope too that the Romanian Government will give greater prominence to the needs to the lower strata of society in Romania. In many areas simple, civilisational assets such as running water and sewage disposal systems are missing.
Surely the preaccession process must also benefit the many millions of poverty stricken citizens. We in the European Parliament want to help them not just to survive, but to thrive. Only if the Romanian Government and its administration are willing to forego corruption in all its insidious forms can poverty ever be conquered in Romania. Honesty has not only a commercial value. Honesty provides the essential bond of trust between the state and citizen upon which democracy relies.
The report also points out the developments in the area of developing and implementing the
where much still needs to be done to build up the administrative and judicial capacity not only to have laws on paper and in Parliament, but to ensure that they are implemented in such a way that they can play a real and positive role in the lives of citizens.
This report as it stands was passed with unanimity in the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy with no abstentions. This exceptional consensus across all parties regarding the main thrust of the report has already had a positive impact in Romania. The situation has changed, however. Already there has been root and branch reform of government with many new ministerial positions and responsibilities. Tomorrow I understand there will be a new children's law.
I understand there is some hesitation and a little confusion among our Socialist colleagues – due to the swiftness of the changes in the situation in Romania – on how to vote. As the vote is now likely to be held tomorrow, I urge the PSE Group to have a new exchange of views on this so that I can fulfil my task as rapporteur and ensure that they have the fullest and most up-to-date information.
After the vote, I will be calling upon the Commission to report back to Parliament on how the Commissioner's team will now proceed. I believe that such a report must come back to this Parliament before we rise for the European elections in May. I will also call upon the Council to accept the reality of Parliament's clear and unequivocal position. Council cannot simply continue along the old line that all is well in Romania and that entry in 2007 is the done deal that we have been told it is since Rome last year.
This is not so. In the United Kingdom, the Parliament of which I also had the honour to be a member, is omnipotent and omnicompetent. I have no doubt that other national parliaments of EU Member States hold the same responsibilities. The European people have the final say. We all want Romania to join the European Union, but not at a price that is too high for the European citizens to pay."@en1
|
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples