Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-03-31-Speech-3-190"
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"en.20040331.6.3-190"2
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Mr President, at the outset I should say that as a past United Nations human rights fellow and indeed as a one-time chairman of the Irish Commission for Justice and Peace, I am particularly pleased to be here to speak on this report. I welcome the opportunity to participate in the debate on what is a fundamental report of critical importance to the Union. The report merits careful consideration. As the rapporteur said, if the European Union is prepared to demand high standards in the human rights area, it should also be prepared to scrutinise its own performance and deliver high standards. Given the wide range and nature of the report, it is not possible to address all the concerns raised, but I will endeavour to address some of the key issues.
Making progress on the draft directive on equality of access to the supply of goods and services has been identified as an important priority of the Irish presidency and has an impact in this area.
The representatives of the Member States meeting within the European Council in Brussels on 13 December 2003 noted the importance of human rights data collection and analysis to assist in policy formation. They agreed to extend the mandate of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia to become a Human Rights Agency, and the Commission is preparing a proposal to give effect to the European Council decision.
On free movement within the Union, I would like to record the adoption of the directive on long-term resident status for third country nationals. This opens the possibility to access long-term resident status after five years of legal residency and the recognition of equality of treatment in a series of aspects of social and economic life. Given some of the wilder statements in some of the media referred to by the rapporteur about issues relating to free movement, this is a very welcome development. On a personal note I would like to mention in particular that there is a reference in paragraph 155 to judicial delays. I have to say to the rapporteur that I was most impressed by the fact that an Irish case is cited there. It is a case in which I myself was involved and the delays there were, in my view, unforgivable.
I have noted with interest the question of participation in European and local elections and the democratic deficit. As we approach the European elections, it is in all of our interests to encourage and to ensure the highest possible turnout of all eligible voters. Participation is at the very heart of democracy.
Unfortunately, it is clear from public opinion surveys, poor voter turnout in European Union elections and media reporting that many Europeans feel disconnected from the European Union and consider that they are not sufficiently informed about the EU. For this reason the presidency has decided to convene a Ministerial Conference on Communicating Europe which takes place next week. The Conference will have two key objectives: to discuss how people might be better informed about the European Union and to assess how we might promote greater engagement by all Europeans in deciding how our Union develops and moves ahead.
Once again I would like to thank you for the opportunity to participate in this debate and, on a personal level, I would like to congratulate the rapporteur on what I regard as a very fine and an extremely significant report.
In recent weeks we have all been horrified by the tragic events in Madrid, and our deepest sympathies go to the victims, their families and all the people of Spain. As the Taoisech has already reported, a declaration on terrorism was adopted by the European Council and sets out a package of measures designed to enhance the capacity of the European Union to meet the threat of terrorism. We are also conscious of our obligations to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms when undertaking any counter-terrorism measures. There can be no compromise on these fundamental values; there is no trade-off. The effective suppression of terrorism necessitates respect for due processes and for the rule of law. The Declaration commits us to combating terrorism in accordance with the fundamental principles on which the Union is founded.
The European Council also agreed that negotiations on the new Constitution should be resumed. As the Members of this House will be aware, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which was discussed extensively at the European Convention, and on which there was an overwhelming consensus, is an element to be incorporated in the new Constitutional Treaty – something that we will all welcome.
The Tampere European Council in 1999 agreed to work towards the creation of a common European Union asylum system on the basis of the full and inclusive application of the Geneva Convention. We welcome the progress made yesterday in the Justice and Home Affairs Council on the Asylum Qualifications Directive. Our priority is to finalise this and to reach agreement on the Procedures Directive as part of the completion of the first phase of the Common European Asylum system.
Turning to another issue, trafficking in human beings is an appalling, exploitative and criminal practice. The Brussels Declaration on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, endorsed by the Council last May, provides the basis for a comprehensive five-year programme, which we are actively working towards. The Council has also agreed measures to give assistance to victims of trafficking through the provision of short-term residence permits to victims who cooperate with the competent authorities. In this context I recall the framework decision on combating the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, which was adopted last year and which is all part of the human rights defence spectrum.
In relation to the issue of solidarity and social exclusion, Member States have adopted national action plans in the context of the Lisbon Agenda, outlining the actions to be taken to combat social exclusion. The second such plan was developed in all Member States last year, following a consultation process with social cohesion interest groups. The European Council agreed that a high level of social cohesion was central to the Lisbon Agenda and that strategies which make a decisive impact on social exclusion and on the eradication of poverty should be reinforced. It focused particularly on the key role that could be played by the modernisation of social protection systems.
We see employment as the primary route out of poverty and out of social exclusion; employment in well-paid jobs, enabling citizens to enjoy higher levels of prosperity throughout the Union. The European Council recognised that delivering more and better jobs was the most urgent issue to be addressed.
It is essential to attract more people into the labour force. Achieving higher rates of labour force participation by women and older groups should assist in combating social exclusion and in averting the continuing higher risk of poverty experienced by these groups. It is also in the interest of the Community to do this in any event.
Turning to equality issues which were addressed in the report, the overall effect of the three European Union equality directives is to require Member States to prohibit direct discrimination, indirect discrimination and harassment on the grounds of gender, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation in relation to employment, self-employment or occupational and vocational training. Victimisation is also prohibited. It is important now that we move ahead to fully implement these vital protections for some of the more vulnerable groups in our society."@en1
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