One-minute speeches on matters of political importance
President
The next item is the one-minute speeches.
Iuliu Winkler
(HU) Thank you very much, Mr President. The Regional Development and Cohesion Funds are very important for the new Member States, since the differences between regions are very significant for them. My country, Romania, can apply for more than EUR 20 billion for regional development by 2013. One year after our accession, experience shows an improvement in drawing on funds dedicated to regional development, but we are still far from accomplishing what we want. It is crucial for the regions of Romania that they increase their ability to draw on the Funds, by using them effectively and accounting for them systematically.
Romania needs tools for this, such as, for example, an effective and increasingly decentralised system of public administration institutions, and a new division into areas of economic development, since the current regions are not fit for purpose, nor are they effective, so new regions need to be created from the bottom up according to appropriate social agreements, and which would be led by elected regional governments. The new division of Romania into areas of economic development cannot be delayed. Thank you very much.
Marusya Ivanova Lyubcheva
(BG) I would like to draw your attention to some problems related to disaster and accidents at sea. These are usually discussed when they occur, and then time quickly sweeps tragedies away from memory. Accidents at sea, however, are part of the common maritime policy. We must get ready for them just like we get ready to implement a transfer.
The Bulgarian ship Vanessa was shipwrecked recently in the Sea of Azov. During the past several months there were a number of accidents in the Bay of Kerch in bad weather. Sailors died, others went missing, there were damages worth millions of euro. The Sea of Azov and the Black Sea were polluted with oil. The common maritime policy needs to provide for measures to minimize risks and establish navigation arrangements which will reduce accidents. We need a comprehensive scheme for rapid response and conduct of emergency rescue operations. We need equipment which can operate in severe weather stationed so as to enable its rapid deployment at accident sites.
Magor Imre Csibi
(RO) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen: obesity affects more than half of the population in most Member States. What is even more worrying is that every year more than 400 000 European children become overweight. One of the issues to be addressed in combating obesity is the effective labelling of food products. Unfortunately, European food labels do not yet provide the information consumers need in order to make healthy and safe decisions.
Therefore, I welcome the European Commission's proposal to review the Directive on the labelling of foodstuffs and implicitly the establishment of a simplified labelling system, printed on the front of the packaging of foodstuffs. However, I regret that the Commission's proposal does not include a colour-coded labelling system clearly indicating the nutritional value of the product (low, medium, high). Labelling should be to the advantage of both manufacturers and consumers, and a well informed consumer will make wise dietary choices.
Brian Crowley
Mr President, with regard to the upcoming referendum in Ireland on the Reform Treaty, I would like to put into context the importance of this from an economic point of view, because the Reform Treaty, if nothing else, is about making the European Union more efficient in its decision-making capacity, which in itself will lead to greater economic success and greater growth. From an Irish perspective, last year there was EUR 2.6 billion worth of investment in Irish industry and Irish business; 9 000 new jobs were created; there were over EUR 80 billion worth of exports; over 80% of all products manufactured in Ireland were exported, mainly to the European Union markets. Average salaries in Ireland are EUR 44 000 per year, and over EUR 3 billion are taken by the Government in corporation tax. These issues - to ensure the continuing growth in economic terms, in employment terms, in economic growth and in wealth management - are what is so important. That is why we are all seeking a 'yes' vote for the referendum in Ireland.
Ilda Figueiredo
(PT) When unemployment in Portugal has risen to one of the highest levels in the last 20 years, affecting women and young people in particular, yet another multinational is exerting pressure on workers to rescind their contracts of employment. The company concerned is Yasaki Saltano, which wishes to abandon cable production in Serzedo, Gaia. It intends to continue to transfer production to other countries, particularly in Asia and Africa, after already making drastic cuts in its labour force. This multinational employed over 6 000 workers in its factories in Ovar and Serzedo, for which it received millions of euros in Community aid. Those jobs have now been cut by more than two thirds, however.
We must therefore once again stress the need for effective measures to prevent these relocations of production, rather than mere palliatives such as the current globalisation fund for workers affected by relocations of multinationals, particularly in the automotive and automotive components sector, examples being Opel Portugal, Johnson Controls and Alcoa Fujikura, which have now closed.
Urszula Krupa
(PL) Mr President, at the last session I was not allowed to speak, and I am therefore protesting today, in the European Parliament, at an infringement of human rights and an assault on the dignity of the individual.
During a flight to Buenos Aires at the invitation of the Polish American community, where we transmitted and defended universal European values together with the director of a Catholic radio station respected by millions of listeners, we were harassed by journalists from the private, commercial television network TVN, who tried to force us to give interviews, and personally insulted the clergyman and myself, a Member of the European Parliament. This psychological violence, which endangered our mental and physical wellbeing during the fourteen-hour flight, was relieved by several interventions on the part of the Lufthansa flight crew, but it continued after we landed.
I would also draw attention to the danger of supplying third parties with information about flights, seat numbers and hotel reservations, contrary to existing legislation, since it can be used by all sorts of terrorists.
Peter Baco
(SK) Ladies and gentlemen, in their speeches in the European Parliament our Hungarian colleagues regularly attack Slovakia without any justification. The last attack consisted of lies about the abolishment of the national radio broadcasting network in Slovakia and teasing about how Slovakia should cooperate with Hungary on the normalisation of protection of Little Rye Island waters on the Danube.
We have already come to an agreement, after all, on the water regime in the entire Danube region. The last agreement consisted of a treaty concluded by Hungarian and Slovakian Government delegations in 1998 - I led the Slovakian delegation - and I remember well that this treaty accommodated the Hungarian requirements concerning this area too. The Slovakian Government has ratified this treaty and respects it, and now, finally, it needs to be ratified and respected by the Hungarian Government too.
Roberta Alma Anastase
(RO) Mr President, as rapporteur on regional cooperation in the Black Sea region, I would like to express concern for Bulgaria's agreement of 18 January 2008 to take part in and support the Russian South Stream energy project.
This project poses a dual challenge to the energy security of the European Union. First of all, a Member State's support to this project runs counter to the primary objective of diversifying the energy resources of the Union. The South Stream project would only increase the EU's dependence on a single source. Secondly, by its very existence, the South Stream project undermines the NABUCCO project, which is believed to be of strategic importance for the success of EU energy security policy.
Allow me to remind you that this agreement between Bulgaria and Russia came at a time when the European Parliament was adopting with a majority of votes the report on Black Sea cooperation.
Cătălin-Ioan Nechifor
(RO) I would have preferred my first one minute speech not to deal with a negative topic, but what happened last week on the Eastern border of the European Union should serve as a warning to us all.
On 21 and 22 January, groups of Ukrainian citizens blocked the access of cars to the Siret-Porubnoe border post, between Romania and the Ukraine, because of their discontentment with the requirement to pay for a visa for entering Romanian territory, whereas Romanian nationals no longer require a visa to go to the Ukraine as of 1 January 2008.
As a Member State, Romania must comply with European regulations concerning visas for non-EU nationals and cannot possibly grant preferential treatment to the Ukraine. This is why I believe that the Parliament and the Commission should ask for more consistent action from the Ukraine, as a means of asserting its European vocation...
(President interrupts the speaker)
Marian Harkin
Mr President, I want to draw attention to a recent report by the Environmental Protection Agency on water quality in Ireland. While we have invested significantly in upgrading waste water systems under the Water Framework Directive, we still have to achieve certain objectives with regard to water quality.
In this connection, I want to mention an issue which we have ignored and continue to ignore in Ireland: the issue of putting substantial resources into upgrading and refurbishment of septic tanks in Ireland, particularly in rural Ireland. There is far too great a tendency to blame septic tanks for the threat of pollution to Irish drinking water. But, to the extent that there is a problem, it is imperative that the Irish Government put in place a grant-aided programme to examine and, where necessary, upgrade existing septic tanks.
But perhaps there is an agenda here not to invest in upgrading septic tanks, and then to use this as a stick with which to beat the rural population. If so, this is short-sighted and totally contrary to European legislation.
Francesco Enrico Speroni
(IT) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Neapolitan politicians are in the habit of sending their rubbish throughout Europe. Today the waste has reached the Quirinale, where the dirty Bolshevik Napolitano has given the order to provide blandishments to prolong the death-agony of his drinking friends, without a care for democracy or for the people's wish to vote for a new parliament. This, however, is all you would expect from someone who spoke in favour of the Soviet invasion of Hungary.
Pedro Guerreiro
(PT) I would like to take this opportunity to speak in the plenary to denounce the unacceptable situation of Kader Şahin, a young Turkish Communist Party activist who has been detained by decision of the Turkish authorities since January 2007, with no grounds being given for the charges against her, or for holding her in preventive custody awaiting trial.
Kader Şahin was arrested when a press conference denouncing the repression of Turkish political prisoners in December 2000 was violently disrupted by Turkish police. Bearing in mind that another hearing on her case is scheduled for 5 February, we express our dismay at this situation and call upon the Turkish authorities to release her immediately and drop the unfounded allegations against her.
Gerard Batten
Mr President, Alexander Litvinenko testified to the Mitrokhin Commission in Italy and made to me personally the allegation that Romano Prodi was an agent of some kind of the KGB. Mario Scaramella of the Mitrokhin Commission later came to London to warn Mr Litvinenko of murder threats. Mr Litvinenko was soon murdered.
Mr Scaramella returned to Italy, where he was immediately arrested. He has been detained for the last 13 months on trumped-up charges, without trial and denied access to the outside world. Mr Scaramella has lost his income, his home, is separated from his children and his health is at risk. Mario Scaramella is a political prisoner. His continued detention is a scandal at the heart of the European Union. His only offence, if it can be so called, was to help shine a light into the rotten corners of European politics. All democrats should call for his immediate, unconditional release.
László Tőkés
(HU) In this European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, I would like to draw your attention to an extremely discriminatory draft law by the Romanian Conservative Party which, if adopted, would penalise people who belong to ethnic minorities and who do not speak the state language of Romania with loss of their nationality. This language law is primarily aimed at the Hungarian community in their ancient homeland of Transylvania. Up to now, not a single Romanian parliamentary party has opposed it, and the National Council for Combating Discrimination has even given it the green light. At the same time, the Romanian parliament is preparing to adopt another discriminatory law, the Education Act. We will be contacting Leonard Orban, the Romanian Commissioner responsible for multilingualism in the European Commission, about these issues very soon, because we are convinced that Romania must follow the democratic practice of the European Parliament with regard to its language laws.
Colm Burke
Mr President, I wish to raise an issue in relation to the Convention on the Adoption of Children. This was adopted by the Council of Europe in 1967. Four decades later it is out of date and needs to be replaced.
In 2002 the Council of Europe decided that it should be changed. There were proposals agreed in 2004. The text of the new convention was agreed in 2007 by the legal experts. However, it appears that one country is now having a road block and blocking it from coming before the Committee of Ministers.
I think a clear message should be sent from Parliament to the Council of Europe that this matter needs to be amended at the earliest possible date and a new convention put in place to bring it up to date with what has happened in individual countries, and also taking into account the decisions of the Court of Human Rights. I would ask that a clear message be sent to the Council of Europe.
Genowefa Grabowska
(PL) Mr President, the cost of visas for non-EU citizens has increased following the extension of the Schengen zone. Belarusians, for example, now have to pay 12 times as much for a visa - 60 euros instead of 5 euros. That is as much as a junior doctor earns in Belarus. Sixty euros is a third of the average monthly wage. For many Belarusians it is a barrier that prevents them from obtaining visas and visiting their EU neighbours.
The Union is impeding direct contact between citizens just when it is enshrining a policy of good neighbourliness in the Treaty of Lisbon. The increase in the price of visas is thus a painful paradox. It is also a perfect present for President Lukashenko, who says Belarusians can expect nothing from Europe.
Ladies and gentlemen, this must be changed. I call for all steps to be taken to reduce the price of visas for citizens of Belarus.
Toomas Savi
Mr President, yesterday the Russian state-funded youth organisation Nashi published the list of Estonians whom they propose to declare personae non gratae in Russia. Amongst them, next to the President of the Republic of Estonia, Toomas-Hendrik Ilves, a former MEP, is my friend and colleague, Tunne Kelam, a member of the delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee.
Nashi, supporting the non-democratic regime of President Putin, describes Mr Kelam as a consistent Russophobe, who has been notable for his nervousness and unhealthy homespun nationalism.
All of us who know Mr Kelam well are perfectly aware that those heartless words are complete lies. In my opinion, the European Parliament should react to this insult. But, on the other hand, being an enemy of the enemies of democracy in Russia is quite a grand compliment to Mr Kelam and his efforts.
Ewa Tomaszewska
(PL) Mr President, one of the main principles valued throughout the European Union is that of non-discrimination. Many documents contain references to the need for special protection for the rights of the disabled. The social role of sport, including its role in social integration, is also appreciated. Some EU countries are now adopting legislation on social assistance for sportspeople and former sportspeople, especially former Olympic participants, in difficult material circumstances. So much the better. But it is hard to accept that disabled sportspeople should be overlooked in this connection.
Desislav Chukolov
(BG) For the past 20 years Bulgaria should have been a rule-of-law country but it is not. Neo-communists in our country will stop at nothing. Georgi Pirinski, the Speaker of Bulgaria's Parliament, restricts the freedom of speech by imposing prohibitions on journalists, thus preventing them from doing their job. At the same time it turns out that Mr. Pirinski is a US citizen and according to Bulgarian legislation he is anything but a Bulgarian citizen. On the other hand, one of the most notorious drug traffickers in Europe, Budimir Kujovic, has Bulgarian citizenship because he was issued a passport by the top people in the Ministry of Interior, so that he could travel across the Union freely and go about his business. The Prosecutor's Office conducted an inquiry, no one is to blame, but the passport is a fact.
At the same time, the party most strongly in opposition in our country, Ataka, is subjected to daily attacks by the powers that be. Our leader's wife, Kapka Siderova, had a miscarriage because the harassment against her got so far that charges were pressed against her in a fabricated political trial. Finally, I suggest to Mr. Pöttering that he should do something more than sit apathetically and support neo-communists in Bulgaria.
Jaroslav Zvěřina
(CS) As far back as 2000 the Council of Europe expressed its wish to transform the European Union, within 10 years, into the most dynamic and competitive part of the world. Since then it has been repeatedly said that somehow we are not succeeding.
Nothing substantial has been done about the patents legislation and our entire innovation environment is lacking dynamism.
The modified Lisbon Strategy does not bring anything that is very new. Perhaps the targets it sets are slightly more modest. This is a further reason why we should try to set targets that are easier to meet. In my opinion, these include the simplification of legislation and the abolishment of unnecessary regulations in all areas where this is possible.
Curbing the high rate of European legislation is a promising method. Introducing the principle of 'discontinuity' into the workings of the European Parliament would surely be beneficial in this regard. It would be a positive step if the legislative proposals that have not been tabled could be abandoned once the parliamentary term is over.
Pierre Pribetich
(FR) Mr President, last week the package of legislation on climate change and energy was presented. We must welcome the spirit of the Commission proposals. These issues affect a large number of areas, in particular housing and more especially social housing. We realise that a large proportion of the housing stock in the Union will be affected by these necessary changes. The charges relating to heating, for instance, are a major expense for tenants and they need to be regulated and even reduced. The changes to social housing form part of our sustainable development policies and they call for appropriate financing in order to meet these new requirements. Until now, the Commission has concentrated financing on the new Member States, who have therefore received substantial support. The older Member States have not. National housing policies need consistent financial support to speed up changes to social housing. If the policies described are to be credible, we need to match actions to words. The Commission will have to take the necessary follow-up action and finance changes to social housing everywhere in the Union.
Hans-Peter Martin
(DE) Mr President, I wish to place on record in this forum an incident that occurred in the chamber this afternoon. When President Pöttering was in the chair, Martin Schulz, the Socialist Group chairman, called out so loudly and clearly to me from the front row that he could be understood up here. 'Shut your trap, you idiot!' were his words. That is truly unacceptable behaviour; it is insulting as well as calumnious. I expect appropriate steps to be taken, particularly since the man in question aspires to the position currently held by Mr Pöttering. That is no way to conduct the business of a parliament. Matters were made worse by the fact that, at the same time, some Members were singled out at random because they had the courage to call for a referendum and were then threatened with absurd sanctions.
Petya Stavreva
(BG) The second year of Bulgaria's membership to the European Union is about to turn fatal for many Bulgarian dairy farmers. High fodder prices, low farm-gate purchase prices for milk and the shortage of funds for feeding the animals during the winter months, and the lack of a targeted government policy in stockbreeding are factors that could lead to liquidation of the livestock and to bankruptcy for many Bulgarian farmers. Today, when reforming the common agricultural policy is a particularly important topic for the European Union, we should take into account the current condition of the agrarian sector in the new Member States as well. We cannot neglect the difficulties faced by farmers in the newly acceded countries which result from adaptations to meet European standards. Bulgarian farmers, like their European colleagues, expect wise decisions for the future of the agri-business in the Community.
Marianne Mikko
(ET) Ladies and gentlemen, the harassment of the Director of the St Petersburg Office of the British Council, Mr Kinnock, and his colleagues going as far as questioning by the Russian authorities requires our full attention. The charges levelled at the British Council are a link in the chain to which the cyber attacks against Estonia, the blockade of Polish food products and the radioactive attack in London also belong. In each case the Kremlin has innocently claimed that the incident was an isolated one.
Ladies and gentlemen, such a high number of isolated incidents points to a system. The Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Lavrov, said explicitly last Thursday that the reform of Europe's security architecture is a priority in Russia's foreign policy for 2008. Russia wants to reform the European Union by paralysing our foreign policy and by squeezing us in an energy vice between the North Stream and the South Stream.
As we do not wish to become the undefended target of a strong Russian foreign policy, we must stand firm together in solidarity. We in the European Parliament must condemn the harassment of the British Council.
Marian Zlotea
(RO) The free movement of goods is one of the cornerstones of the European Union. I would like to draw Parliament's attention to the situation of this fundamental principle in Romania. On accession, the Romanian Government decided to adopt a first registration fee for motor vehicles. The Government then announced its intention of discontinuing this fee which the Commission considers to be in breach of the acquis communautaire, in order to prevent the continuation of the infringement procedures opened against Romania. However, the Romanian authorities refuse to reimburse citizens for the fees they have already paid, although this obligation is enshrined in ECJ case law.
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the concept of European citizenship and equal rights for all European nationals will only be fully realised when all the Member States transpose and comply with the rights defined in the Treaty. I would like to inform you that I have started a written statement and I would like to ask you please to sign it, to avoid such situations occurring in the future.
Silvia-Adriana Ţicău
(RO) The Lisbon Strategy expresses the EU's commitment to becoming the most competitive knowledge-based economy. The Lisbon Strategy objectives include increasing investment in research, the development of the information society and the creation of highly skilled jobs.
Unfortunately, woefully few Member States have invested 3% of their GDP in research. Two-thirds of these funds should come from the private sector. Today, when we are talking about reducing climate change, sustainable energy resources, greener vehicles, increasing the energy efficiency of various industries, switching to digital technology etc., investing in research should be one of our priorities. Unfortunately, despite the allocation of national or European funds to research, the link between basic research and the industrial application of its results is still very weak.
I call upon the European Commission to prepare a strategy and an action plan enabling all European citizens to benefit from the results of research. I am convinced that the development of applied research will lead to the creation of high-skilled jobs and the development of a knowledge-based economy.
Oldřich Vlasák
(CS) Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to speak about a topic that is very important in terms of maintaining a variety of regional products and protecting traditional products, namely 'České pivo' (Czech beer).
It was this name, 'České pivo', that was published in the Official Journal of the European Union in the middle of January this year, together with a proposal to register it as a protected geographical designation.
'České pivo' is unique not only according to its consumers but also according to brewing industry experts and Commission officials. Due to the way in which the Czech brewing industry developed in the past, the types of malt and hops used and the brewing processes used have all given 'České pivo' a taste that is different from European beers such as Heineken or Stella Artois.
The Czech Republic was pressing for registration for more than three years. Long and exhausting negotiations culminated in publication in the Official Journal.
I would like to thank the officials of the European Commission as well as the Czech experts for their responsible approach to this matter. I believe that from now on nothing will prevent 'České pivo' from becoming a part of Europe's cultural heritage.
Catherine Stihler
Mr President, I wanted to raise the issue of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a disease which by 2020 will be the third largest cause of death worldwide. COPD killed 2.7 million people in 2000. Up to three quarters of people with COPD have difficulty with simple tasks such as walking upstairs. COPD is associated with many other health problems, and smoking is not the only risk factor: environmental tobacco smoke and pollution are also linked to COPD. As the population ages, COPD will become a bigger problem. I urge colleagues to sign Written Declaration 0102/2007.
Csaba Sógor
(HU) Mr President, I am speaking in my mother tongue, Hungarian. I cannot do that at home. I am delighted that it is possible here. In relation to the question of the Roma, it is the duty of all of us to ease the tensions that have recently built up between ethnicities and to stop the widespread anti-Roma sentiment. We must find an urgent solution to economic migration.
The EU Roma Strategy does, however, form a basis for working out a policy for new and traditional national minorities within the EU. Kosovo has reminded us again that the question of human and minority rights has become an international, European issue. We are responsible for what happens inside and outside the EU. Today, in one of our Member States, it is not Community rights but Community crimes that are being raked up. In Romania, the language law would deprive several hundreds of thousands of people of their nationality. We are mentioning this because we are all responsible for our countries, for our neighbours, and for the whole of Europe. This responsibility is not only present at elections, but it continues to be present in our everyday work, and in finding a reassuring solution to the Roma question. Thank you.
Árpád Duka-Zólyomi
(SK) The situation in the Slovak Parliament is tense and unusual. A decision is to be made on the Lisbon Treaty but the opposition MPs do not intend to take part in the vote as a protest against an anti-democratic press law. This is surprising news but what is behind it?
Robert Fico's Government continues to adopt measures that contradict the basic principles of democracy and a state governed by law. The Prime Minister ignores the opposition and, as he has said himself on more than one occasion, the main opposition in his view is the media. The press law is restrictive and the way in which it curtails the freedom of speech and press freedom is unacceptable. This was highlighted not only by the Slovak Syndicate of Journalists but also by the OSCE; the latter even vigorously appealed to the Parliament to reject the controversial proposal.
On behalf of the vast majority of opposition MPs, I can say that we support the Lisbon Treaty and we regret that the Slovak opposition's means of protesting against such a shameful press law are restricted.
Zita Pleštinská
(SK) The European Parliament recognised the struggle for human rights in Cuba by awarding the Sakharov Prize to the Cuban dissident Oswald Payá Sardiñas in 2002 and to the Ladies in White in 2005; however, ladies and gentlemen, there is much more to solidarity.
The people of Cuba, who can only dream of freedom while being threatened by repression and imprisonment, need more than solidarity. The 'Damas de Blanco' need concrete help from the European Parliament today to free their husbands, opponents of the dictatorial regime, whose health has deteriorate due to inhumane conditions in prison and who risk dying in prison.
Mr President, I am asking you to help secure the release of 45-year-old Antonio Ramón Díaz Sánchez, who was sentenced to 27 years in jail in 2003. Antonio, whose family we have been supporting, and whom I have symbolically adopted along with my fellow Members Peter Šťastný and Milan Gaľa, is seriously ill and urgently needs help: without it he will succumb to his illness in prison.
Péter Olajos
(HU) Thank you very much, Mr President. Last week, here in Parliament, President Barroso presented the Commission's road map for bringing about the ambitious European reduction in carbon dioxide. The next day, the council of Trebišov in Slovakia unanimously rejected a plan to build a power plant that would emit 4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, and against which there have been widespread protests for a year and a half, with petitions and fines on both sides of the border. We could say "Hurrah! Democracy, subsidiarity and civil courage work.” There is, however, another question here. How can it even occur to the Slovak Ministry of the Environment to support and recommend such a power plant? This suggests to me that some countries have still got lots of free carbon dioxide quotas from the Commission. I therefore call upon the Commission to review the grounds for the carbon dioxide quota awarded to Slovakia, because if the Slovak government is racking its brains about a giant coal-fired power plant using obsolete technology in 2008, it means that the Union's incentive system is not working. Thank you.
Milan Gaľa
(SK) In its report published on 17 January 2008 the European Regulators Group states that since the European Parliament and the Council adopted the Directive on roaming on public mobile telephone networks within the Community roaming call charges have fallen and operators have not been attempting to compensate for their losses by increasing charges for other types of calls.
It was also found that when it comes to roaming calls, overcharging by EU mobile networks can be as much as 20% due to call tariffs: roaming calls are billed on a per minute basis. I appreciate the efforts of Commissioner Reding, who announced that the Commission would be looking to remedy this situation.
In my view, it is essential for the mobile operators to offer consumers roaming calls billed on a per second basis just as they do at national level. I further recommend that the document that is being prepared also address the cost of SMS and roaming data services.
Avril Doyle
Mr President, a wise December decision by the Commission to allow the import of Brazilian beef only from approved holdings envisaged by 1 February a positive list of approximately 300 farms, based on previous inspections by the Food and Veterinary Office.
Confusion is rife following a statement today by Commissioner Kyprianou that there would be a ban from this Friday, as the Brazilian authorities had presented a list of 2 600 farms, raising major doubt, so more time will be needed to check them out. But the Commissioner continued - and I am quoting - 'There is no positive list for the time being ... but, of course, this can change in the next few days'.
So, will there or will there not be a ban? Will the 300 or so FVO-inspected holdings form a de facto positive list, pending inspections of others? Why was there no press release today from a Kyprianou source? Our consumers and our farmers deserve clarification.
Mairead McGuinness
Mr President, could I bring to the attention of the House a very important report published yesterday by the Commission about the lives of over a million European people who live in institutions? These are people with a disability, and the conclusions are not very comfortable reading. The quality of life in these institutions varies greatly, and the dignity of the people who live there is not always guaranteed.
Institutional care is often of unacceptably poor quality. Can I ask people in the House to read their own country report, because it might just wake us all up? I know the situation in Bulgaria received media attention recently, and lots of us are concerned about that, but even in my own country we could make improvements there too.
It is not just about money. Services in the community are not more expensive than institutional care if we take into account the needs of the residents and the quality of their lives.
Lastly I will mention the Delta Centre that I visited in Carlow in Ireland just last week. It is a model of best practice for adults with a disability who can live in the community and visit this centre.
Mihaela Popa
(RO) Mr President, the Roma issue is one that concerns the entire European Union, not Romania alone. The Union has made available significant funding to ensure the promotion of equal opportunities. Funds have been earmarked for the desegregation of Roma; however, problems still persist. I believe that the implementation of these European funds should be monitored, and in particular it is the sustainability of EU-funded projects that should be monitored.
Mentalities are hard to change. However, education plays an important part in changing mentalities. Therefore, I believe that additional funding is needed for intercultural education, cultural and artistic activities, sports events, "second-chance” education, healthcare education etc. leading to Roma integration in all European societies. I'd like to reiterate the need to monitor these programs, in particular their sustainability.
President
That is the end of the one-minute speech, which was a little longer than usual. I think it was the longest one-minute speech in the history of this Parliament. That had to happen one day.


4. Dohas attīstības programmas perspektīvas pēc PTO septītās ministru konferences (balsošana)
Harlem Désir
(FR) Priekšsēdētāja kungs, vēlējos teikt, ja pareizi izprotu mūsu kolēģa Papastamkos kunga grozījumu, runa ir par eksporta subsīdiju likvidēšanu, ko visi PTO biedri Honkongā apņēmās ievērot. Tāpēc, pretēji kļūdai, kas radusies mūsu balsošanas zīmēs, Eiropas Parlamenta sociālistu un demokrātu progresīvās alianses grupa patiesi atbalsta šo grozījumu.


Surveillance et réduction des émissions de gaz à effet de serre provenant des carburants (transport routier et navigation intérieure) (débat)
Le Président
L'ordre du jour appelle le rapport de Mme Corbey, au nom de la commission de l'environnement, de la santé publique et de la sécurité alimentaire, sur la proposition de directive du Parlement européen et du Conseil modifiant la directive 98/70/CE en ce qui concerne les spécifications relatives à l'essence, au carburant diesel et aux gazoles ainsi que l'introduction d'un mécanisme permettant de surveiller et de réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre provenant des carburants utilisés dans le transport routier, modifiant la directive 1999/32/CE du Conseil en ce qui concerne les spécifications relatives aux carburants utilisés par les bateaux de navigation intérieure et abrogeant la directive 93/12/CEE - C6-0061/2007 -.
Dorette Corbey
Monsieur le Président, Monsieur le Commissaire, Mesdames et Messieurs, demain un long processus arrivera à sa fin. Je souhaite remercier chaudement les rapporteurs fictifs, tous les membres de mon équipe, la Commission et la Présidence française pour leurs efforts, leur travail et leur bonne volonté à coopérer.
Demain, nous pourrons approuver un accord en première lecture et, ce faisant, donner le feu vert à une directive spéciale. Pour la première fois, les exigences en matière de CO2 seront liées à un produit et à un processus de production. Le Parlement s'est engagé à continuer à améliorer cette directive.
Cette directive encouragera de manière positive l'utilisation de biocarburants verts et non controversés ainsi que l'utilisation d'électricité pour le transport routier - ce qui peut permettre de gagner énormément en efficacité - et elle découragera la pratique de brûler les gaz de méthane. Ce sont des résultats formidables qui prouvent que l'Europe s'engage sur la voie de l'énergie durable.
Reprenons cependant dès le début. La directive relative à la qualité des carburants a deux objectifs: la qualité de l'air et la réduction des émissions de CO2. Pour ce qui est de la qualité de l'air, on peut citer trois améliorations par rapport à la proposition originale. Premièrement, des carburants plus propres seront introduits dans les meilleurs délais dans le secteur de la navigation. Deuxièmement, en ce qui concerne la dérogation pour l'éthanol, la Commission a proposé d'augmenter la pression de vapeur maximale lorsque l'éthanol est mélangé. Ce point a fait l'objet de nombreux débats. Les pays du sud en particulier souhaiteraient obtenir des dérogations pour le mélange d'éthanol, mais ce sont précisément les pays du sud qui sont le plus touchés par le problème de la pollution à l'ozone. Le compromis qui a été trouvé est le suivant: une exception ne sera admise que si les exigences liées à la qualité de l'air sont remplies.
Un troisième point concerne le méthylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT), un additif pour carburant qui est nocif aussi bien pour la santé que pour les voitures. On est tenté de penser qu'il devrait dès lors être interdit. Malheureusement, ce n'est pas facile à faire à cause des règles de l'Organisation mondiale du commerce. C'est la raison pour laquelle une valeur limite a maintenant été établie, ce qui est clairement bénéfique pour la santé et contribue à réduire le nombre de substances neurotoxiques.
Je souhaite maintenant passer au deuxième objectif clé, c'est-à-dire la réduction des émissions de gaz à effet de serre. Comme je viens de le dire, c'est sur ce point que cette législation a été fortement améliorée. Pour la première fois, les exigences spécifiques au CO2 seront liées au processus de production. Au cours des prochaines années, l'industrie pétrolière devra rendre compte des émissions de gaz à effet de serre causées par l'extraction, le transport, la distribution, le raffinage du pétrole ainsi que par l'utilisation de diesel ou d'essence. Une valeur standard est ensuite établie sur la base de cette analyse du cycle complet des carburants. En outre, l'ensemble de la chaîne devra émettre 10 % en moins d'ici 2020.
Il va sans dire que nous avons discuté de cet objectif de 10 % dans les moindres détails. Un pourcentage de six pour cent est contraignant et une partie de ce pourcentage peut être atteinte en améliorant l'efficacité de toute la chaîne, grâce à moins de brûlage de gaz, à des raffineries plus efficaces et à la réparation des fuites. Une autre partie peut être atteinte en utilisant des biocarburants, à condition que le type le plus efficace soit utilisé. La culture de biocarburants, qui ne sont, tout compte fait, que légèrement plus performants, ne sert selon nous à rien. Nous ferions un énorme pas en arrière si nous abattions les forêts tropicales pour cultiver des biocarburants.
Nous devons dès lors avoir des exigences strictes en matière de durabilité. Ces exigences ont maintenant été intégrées à la directive. Elles couvrent la réduction des émissions de CO2, la biodiversité, mais également des critères sociaux. Les 4 % restants de la réduction de 10 % ne sont dans un premier temps pas contraignants. Ces 4 % se décomposent à leur tour en deux composants. Une première partie concerne des projets dans le cadre du mécanisme de développement propre (MDP) dans la chaîne. Brûler moins de gaz est l'une des manières les plus efficaces de réduire les gaz à effet de serre, mais ce n'est pas toujours lié à l'essence ou au diesel qui se retrouvent sur le marché européen. C'est la raison pour laquelle le développement de projets MDP est permis, sujet à vérification.
Les 2 % restants concernent les nouvelles technologies, par exemple le captage et le stockage du carbone (CSC) ainsi que l'électricité dans le transport routier. L'électricité est prometteuse, mais la technologie doit faire ses preuves avant de pouvoir être commercialisée à grande échelle. Cela devrait être plus clair d'ici 2014, date à laquelle les objectifs indicatifs pourront devenir contraignants.
L'un dans l'autre, je suis d'avis que cette directive contribuera considérablement à réduire les émissions de CO2 provenant du transport routier. Je me réjouis que cette mesure soit conforme aux choix qui sont maintenant faits par les États-Unis. La norme pour les carburants hydrocarburés mise en place par la Californie est copiée dans tous les États-Unis.
Je souhaiterais remercier une nouvelle fois les rapporteurs fictifs pour leur contribution et leur excellent effort collectif et j'attends le débat avec impatience.
Jean-Louis Borloo
président en exercice du Conseil. - Monsieur le Président, Mesdames et Messieurs, je voudrais féliciter Mme la rapporteure, Mme Corbey, pour un travail qui est à la fois très complexe sur le plan technique, mais qui est absolument essentiel dans l'avenir des émissions.
Un compromis a été trouvé sur le 6+4, si je veux dire les choses assez simplement. Six immédiatement contraignants et quatre, dans le cadre d'une clause de rendez-vous. Il y a aussi les avancées, notamment sur la durabilité des biocarburants dans la directive ENR elle-même, qui nous paraissaient essentielles et minimales. Mais je crois que nous sommes parvenus à un très bon compromis, permettez moi d'en remercier également la Commission.
Stavros Dimas
Monsieur le Président, la Commission se réjouit de l'accord sur la directive relative à la qualité des carburants, qui garde les principaux éléments de la proposition de la Commission, mais qui représente un important pas en avant dans le secteur de la protection de l'environnement. Je voudrais dès lors remercier la rapporteure, Dorette Corbey, pour sa contribution en vue de parvenir à l'accord final. L'élément de base de l'accord de compromis est l'obligation selon laquelle les fournisseurs d'énergie devront limiter les émissions de gaz à effet de serre pendant toute la durée du cycle de la vie des carburants. Il s'agit là d'une contribution importante à notre politique en matière de climat. Cette obligation encouragera le progrès technologique, et elle est aussi la première des mesures supplémentaires en cours d'adoption prévues dans le cadre la stratégie révisée sur les émissions de dioxyde de carbone provenant des voitures.
En insérant le critère de la durabilité pour les biocarburants, nous proposerons non seulement des mesures d'encouragement en faveur de l'utilisation des biocarburants dont les performances sont les meilleures en termes d'émissions de gaz à effet de serre, mais nous empêcherons également que des risques graves pour l'environnement et liés à leur production ne surviennent. En outre, l'accord de compromis permettra de réduire les émissions de polluants, principalement en adoptant des limites plus basses pour le soufre et les hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques, de faciliter l'utilisation d'éthanol, d'améliorer l'information des consommateurs et d'établir une limite relative pour l'additif MMT (méthylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl). En bref, cet accord de compromis s'inscrit dans notre politique traditionnelle de contrôle des émissions des polluants dans l'atmosphère et constitue un important progrès de notre politique en matière de climat. Je vous demande dès lors de voter en faveur de cet accord demain.
Pilar Ayuso
Monsieur le Président, Monsieur le Commissaire, cette proposition, sous la forme telle qu'elle a été présentée par la Commission, était bonne, non seulement en raison des réductions des émissions de soufre, mais aussi de son nouvel article 7 bis, qui exigeait des fournisseurs qu'ils réduisent graduellement leur émissions de gaz à effet de serre, et parce qu'elle résolvait le vieux problème de la pression de vapeur pour les mélanges d'essence et de bioéthanol dans les pays comme le mien qui connaissent des étés très chauds.
Le vote de la commission de l'environnement, de la santé publique et de la sécurité alimentaire, a éliminé ces éléments, ce qui a inquiété bon nombre d'entre nous.
Aujourd'hui, un accord est sur la table. Cet accord assouplit l'application de l'article 7 bis et restaure la dérogation concernant la pression de vapeur, tout en renforçant bien sûr les conditions pour utiliser cette dérogation. Pour ce qui est des autres éléments du paquet relatif au changement climatique, tout le monde ne les trouvera pas globalement satisfaisants, mais tout le monde peut accepter ce paquet.
Je voudrais remercier Mme Corbey pour son excellent travail et son aptitude à résoudre les problèmes. Je voudrais également remercier M. Turmes et, bien sûr, la Présidence française, qui s'est montrée très efficace dans ce dossier également.
Marios Matsakis
au nom du groupe ALDE. - (EN) Monsieur le Président, beaucoup d'entre nous commencent enfin à réaliser que notre planète n'est pas indestructible, elle a en effet une date de péremption, et que nous, les humains, à cause de nos comportements pas très judicieux, contribuons à rapprocher dangereusement cette date. Il y a bien sûr encore des sceptiques, en particulier dans ce Parlement, mais leur nombre diminue rapidement à mesure qu'ils dépassent les limites des dogmes extrêmes qu'ils se sont imposés ou se débarrassent de manipulations, parfois suspectes, de tiers.
L'UE devrait être, et elle l'est, à la tête de la lutte pour sauver notre environnement, et la série de textes législatifs visant à combattre le changement climatique qui fait actuellement l'objet de débats au Parlement en est une preuve bienvenue. Mais pour être vraiment utile, cette législation doit être concrète et être mise en œuvre de manière efficace et en temps utile. Comme toujours, il convient de faire des compromis c'est ce qui s'est également passé pour le rapport Corbey sur la surveillance et la réduction des émissions de gaz à effet de serre provenant de carburants.
Il faut dire que la rapporteure s'est battue de manière très admirable et acharnée afin de neutraliser les effets affaiblissants des positions du Conseil et, dans l'ensemble, je pense qu'elle a réussi. Je la félicite pour cette réussite. Je dois aussi dire que pendant ces négociations difficiles, la rapporteure a régulièrement informé tous les rapporteurs fictifs en leur fournissant des informations complètes. Ainsi, cette coopération était telle qu'elle a permis à Mme Corbey de se faire entendre à la table des négociations
Le compromis a permis de parvenir à des accords, assez satisfaisants vu les circonstances, sur la plupart des questions controversées, comme les biocarburants, les additifs métalliques et le soufre contenu dans certains carburants, et mon groupe y est totalement favorable.
Neil Parish
(EN) Monsieur le Président, je voudrais premièrement remercier la rapporteure, Mme Corbey, et la Présidence française pour les efforts extraordinaires qu'ils ont réalisés pour garantir la conclusion d'un accord dans ce dossier innovant dans le cadre de la lutte contre le changement climatique. Je voudrais également rendre hommage à Joseph Daul, que je remplace, pour le travail difficile qu'il a réalisé pour rédiger l'avis de la commission de l'agriculture et du développement rural sur le rapport Corbey sur la qualité des carburants.
Enfin, l'accord atteint sur ce rapport et le rapport Turmes sur les énergies renouvelables qui y est étroitement lié sont des réussites dont nous pouvons être, dans le monde agricole, très satisfaits. Je pense que l'industrie des biocarburants durables a un avenir et que ces deux directives fournissent le cadre juridique nécessaire pour permettre à l'industrie de se développer et pour permettre l'adoption future de biocarburants de deuxième génération. Je me réjouis que nous nous soyons maintenant engagés à ce que 20 % de l'ensemble de l'énergie de l'UE soit de l'énergie renouvelable. Je suis très satisfait de ce rapport.
Claude Turmes
(EN) Monsieur le Président, premièrement, toutes mes félicitations à Mme Dorette Corbey. Il était essentiel pour moi, en tant que rapporteur pour la directive sur les énergies renouvelables, que nous collaborions étroitement afin que le critère de la durabilité soit bien sauvegardé et le soit de la même manière dans les deux directives. Grâce à la combativité de Mme Corbey, nous avons finalement obtenu que la directive relative à la qualité des carburants comprenne maintenant elle aussi tous les détails du critère de durabilité. C'est important pour la lisibilité et la visibilité de la législation communautaire.
En ce qui concerne ce critère de durabilité, je pense que nous avons contribué à apporter des améliorations considérables à la proposition de la Commission. L'empreinte carbonique est maintenant très bien définie, tant pour l'affectation directe des sols, que pour l'affectation indirecte des sols. C'est essentiel pour l'avenir. Je pense que nous également garanti que les spécialistes de l'environnement et de l'énergie - DG TRAN et DG ENVI au niveau de la Commission, mais aussi les experts des secteurs de l'environnement et de l'énergie au niveau national - collaborent sur ce critère de la durabilité et cela aussi est crucial.
Kathy Sinnott
(EN) Monsieur le Président, on accorde actuellement beaucoup d'attention à l'aspect technologique de l'atténuation des effets du changement climatique par le développement de carburants alternatifs. Je suis reconnaissante de ces efforts et souhaiterais apporter ma contribution à ce débat.
Je voudrais attirer l'attention sur l'huile d'algues, qui peut être transformée en combustible pour remplacer les combustibles fossiles. Elle peut être considérée comme un type de carburant très bénéfique tant pour l'environnement que pour les êtres humains parce qu'elle absorbe le CO2 au fur et à mesure qu'il est produit, ce qui en fait donc une source d'énergie n'émettant pas de carbone. En outre, contrairement aux biocarburants qui sont de plus en plus controversés, elle ne remplace pas la production de nourriture. En effet, les algues peuvent être cultivées dans des étangs naturels ou dans des structures artificielles. Elle n'a que des aspects positifs: en effet, elle est aussi particulièrement adaptée pour la production dans les communautés côtières, où les problèmes de l'industrie de la pêche exigent que nous trouvions de nouvelles industries.
Pour toutes ces raisons, je demande vivement à la Commission de considérer l'huile d'algues très sérieusement. Elle a également l'avantage d'être un carburant très énergétique et léger et l'un des rares carburants susceptibles de remplacer le propergol et les carburants d'avion.
Dorette Corbey
Monsieur le Président, Messieurs les représentants de la Commission et du Conseil, Mesdames et Messieurs, merci pour vos aimables attentions. Je suis convaincue que la bonne relation de travail que nous avons eue les uns avec les autres explique les résultats que nous avons atteints. Ce n'est qu'en unissant nos forces que nous pouvons être forts et cela a dans ce cas-ci fonctionné. Il est essentiel de considérer la directive relative à la qualité des carburants dans le contexte plus général du paquet sur le changement climatique.
Premièrement, le rapport Turmes est important dans ce contexte ainsi que, bien sûr, la directive sur les énergies renouvelables. Nous partageons le même critère de la durabilité qui, selon moi, apportera une contribution essentielle au monde entier. Il est extrêmement important, d'après moi, que demain nous le fixions ensemble.
Je partage l'enthousiasme de Mme Sinnott à propos de l'huile d'algues. Je suis en fait tout aussi passionnée par ce sujet qu'elle. Ce qui est formidable dans la directive relative à la qualité des carburants c'est qu'elle donne précisément une énorme impulsion aux nouvelles technologies, ce qui peut constituer un véritable encouragement pour le développement de la technologie basée sur les algues. En principe, la production d'huile d'algues utilise très peu de CO2 et c'est pourquoi cela est si intéressant pour les sociétés pétrolières et d'autres secteurs d'investir dans ces technologies-ci.
Dans le contexte du changement climatique, il est aussi extrêmement important de faire le lien avec le rapport suivant, le rapport Sacconi sur les voitures particulières neuves. Nous nous sommes spécifiquement battus pour que l'électricité soit incluse dans cette directive. Les voitures électriques sont l'avenir. L'électricité dans le secteur du transport routier est bien plus efficace que l'essence ou le diesel. Nous devrions dès lors prendre des mesures en ce sens.
Je remarque que le rapport de M. Sacconi contient un certain nombre de mesures d'encouragement en ce sens et c'est ainsi que nous pourrons résoudre le paradoxe de l'œuf et de la poule. Des mesures d'encouragement appropriées doivent être proposées aussi bien au secteur automobile qu'au secteur des carburants afin que le transport routier et les carburants soient vraiment plus propres. J'espère que, grâce à ces éléments du paquet transport-climat, nous pourrons, en tout cas, contribuer de manière positive à réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre. Je voudrais une nouvelle fois remercier toutes les personnes concernées pour leur coopération.
Le Président
Le débat est clos.
Le vote aura lieu mercredi 17 décembre 2008.