From Brussels to the world” “

A session rich in important issues was held at the European Parliament in Brussels on 28 and 29 January. It opened with a debate on the resumption of negotiations to reach agreement on the EU constitutional Treaty. Other questions on the agenda: common legislation for the security of air traffic (“European single sky”), the future of the common space policy, and the Galileo project (satellite technology for civilian use). On Thursday 29 January, in solemn session, the Parliament conferred the Sakharov Prize for 2003 on Kofi Annan and on UN administrators for the delicate and dangerous role they have played in the planet’s hot spots (see following page). Human rights: the European Parliament denounces numerous violations. There are, according to the EP, at least thirty countries, in five continents, that fail to fully respect human rights. The EP’s finger is pointed, among others, at China, Iraq, Iran, India, Pakistan, the occupied Territories, Chechnya, and Libya (a Libyan delegation was present at the EP on Wednesday, 28 January). Coinciding with the visit to Brussels of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, the Foreign Affairs Commission, chaired by the German Elmar Brok, also expressed itself in favour of the need for clarification by the USA with regard to the situation of the detention of prisoners of war in its military base at Guantanamo. The EP intends to define its own position on the matter in preparation for the 67th session of the UN Commission of Human Rights, scheduled to be held in Geneva from 15 March to 23 April. MEPs criticised the growing “politicisation” of the UN Commission, which, they alleged, had been too prudent last year in denouncing violations of the rights of persons and peoples. MEPs also proposed that membership of the Commission be subjected to the condition that “the governments concerned have ratified the fundamental treaties on human rights”. The Union’s commitment to peace in the Middle East. The EU’s commitment to peace and development in the Middle East continues. The European Parliament, at its session in Brussels, debated a proposal to revive financial and technical cooperation with the occupied Territories (West Bank and Gaza). The rapporteur, Spanish MEP Luis Berenguer Fuster, explained that “many things have changed since the approval of the regulation of 1994 on cooperation with the occupied Territories, following the signing of the Oslo accords”. The plurennial aid programme for the Palestinians, for which provision is made by this regulation, “could not – said Fuster – be implemented in a seriously deteriorated context”: the reference to the start of the second Intifada in September 2000 is clear. “The objective of assistance would now be modified to permit the Palestinians to achieve sustainable economic, political and social development”, taking into account “the context determined by the roadmap aimed at establishing a Palestinian State by 2005″. The actions of humanitarian character would be complementary with the aid allocated by the Commission through the European Office for Humanitarian Aid. The investment planned for 2004-2006 is equivalent to 47.75 million euros per year. The decision-making process within the EU (procedure of co-decision) requires, however, joint endorsement by Council and Parliament. EU, common front against Aids, Sars, “chicken flu”. A common campaign to combat epidemics: that is the direction in which the EP is moving in proposing the creation of the European Centre of disease prevention and control. The Environment and Public Health Commission has adopted the project formulated by English MEP John Bowis: the structure, initially financed with 48 million euros for the first three years, could be operative in 2005. The proposal was prompted by the continuous threats posed by the diffusion of diseases like Aids, Sars or meningitis. In recent days there had been much talk of the so-called “chicken flu” that threatens to spread from the Far East. “These epidemics don’t respect frontiers – it was pointed out during the meeting of the commission in Brussels -; migratory movements, ever more frequent and rapid commercial transactions in a globalized world, facilitate their propagation”. That’s why “a joint action of the Union and member states is needed”. To this is added the fears raised by bioterrorism, with the risk of deliberately provoked epidemics. That explains the proposal for concerted actions with the establishment of a special EU agency, which would supersede the current system of collaboration between national systems begun in this sector in 1999. The project entails the sharing “of resources, competences and specialist know-how” to decide on actions of prevention and treatment.