Between darkness and light

Bronislaw Geremek, one of the historic leaders of Solidarnosc, runs the risk of having his term as MEP terminated due to the “purification” begun by the government in Warsaw against those who committed crimes of the Communist period. The EP, meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg from 23 to 26 April, tackled various questions, including the case of the Polish politician who is highly esteemed in the EU institutions. The EP’s “political and human solidarity” was expressed to Geremek by all the political groups. “WITCH HUNT”. The question was raised by the head of the Liberal-Democratic group GRAHAM WATSON , intervening in response to the request made by the Polish government that the mandate of a member of his group be revoked: the Polish government’s decision was taken “in the light of a law adopted a couple of months ago, whose legitimacy is now being examined by the Polish Constitutional Court”. “This law – said Watson – imposes on journalists, academics and elected members an obligation to sign a declaration in which they deny any collaboration with the security services of the Communist period. Since Gemerek has already signed such a declaration in the past, his refusal to sign is based on a moral rather than a political question”. Geremek “is opposed to the witch hunt in which his government is engaged”, explained the English MEP. ADVANCED THERAPIES – HOMOPHOBIA. During its April session the European Parliament also approved a regulation aimed at harmonizing the legislation concerning “advanced therapies” that have recourse” to gene and cell approaches for the treatment of diseases and malfunctions of the human body”. The EP also tackled the issues relating to the spread of homophobia in the old continent (resolution approved by a majority, though with some ambiguities), to a moratorium on the death sentence at the UN (document unanimously approved), and air and maritime safety. Heated debates were held on EU-USA relations, on human rights in the world and on the future membership of Croatia. AIDS, INFECTION GROWING. Prevention campaigns, more money for research, and a reduction in the price of anti-viral drugs: these are the three main requests that the EP makes of the EU in “pursuit of its campaign to stem the spread of Aids” 25 years after the discovery of the disease. The EP approved the report presented by GEORGS ANDREJEVS , Latvian MEP, according to whom “the tendency to a growth in contagion” is being registered in the 27 member states”. That is why the Parliament is asking for “the gathering of reliable data and measures of prevention aimed at groups at risk”. The Parliament also recognizes the need to “support information campaigns and promote sex education in schools, as well as combat discrimination”. But the document also underlines “the need to encourage the use of condoms, treatments in substitution of drugs, access to clinical tests on a voluntary basis and the provision of clean needles and syringes”. THOSE MOST AT RISK. According to the data presented by Andrejevs, almost 40 million people in the world “live with HIV, while 4.3 million were infected in 2006”. Andrejevs also made the point that “95% of the population infected by Hiv/Aids live in the developing countries, but the reports of EuroHiv and Unaids confirm that the number of new infections continues to grow in Europe”; over 215,000 new infections were registered in the period 1998-2005. According to the report “the groups most exposed to the risk of infection include the consumers of drugs administered by intravenous injection”, “men who have sexual relations with men”, “male and female sex workers” and their “customers” (these are the terms used), “migrants, prison inmates and youths under the age of 25”. The document appeals to “the Commission and member states to promote awareness-raising campaigns that clearly inform the population about the risks of infection, ways of preventing it, forms of behaviour at risk and those that help its prevention”. PIRACY – CLIMATE CHANGE. The Parliament then decided to support the draft EU Directive that prescribes penal sanctions (both terms of imprisonment and fines) for those responsible for acts of piracy and counterfeiting. Acts perpetrated by private users for personal and not lucrative ends are however excluded from the field of application of the sanctions in question. The EP also established a new temporary committee on climate change. On the basis of parliamentary regulations, the committee will remain in office for a year and ought to present a report to the Assembly in May 2008, containing possible recommendations for actions to be taken or measures to be adopted at the EU level.