From the Romanies to China

A large number of debates on the international arena (China, Burma and Lebanon) and a focus over “domestic” issues: some of which are institutional (Turkey’s adhesion negotiations), social (stop to discrimination, the Romanies’ situation), others still economic (the health status of the Common Agricultural Policy, small and large commercial distribution, maritime transportation, aid to the tobacco sector and to small enterprises). The Plenary Meeting of Strasbourg’s European Parliament always addresses an endless number of topics. That of May 19-22 made no exceptions.Fight against discrimination. All the minorities present in Europe, the Roma community in particular, necessitate “specific social protection”. The documents approved by the MEPs of the 27 Member States include the report of the English representative Elizabeth Lynne, aimed at countering all forms of discrimination. The statement preceded by just a few hours the debate on the Roma situation (SIR Europe 38/2008) whose conditions, according to Lynne, “worsened after enlargement in 2004″ in various sectors, including school, health, employment and women’s rights”. On the whole, the Euro-chamber voiced the need “to counter discrimination based on gender, racial or ethnic origin, religion or faith, disabilities, age or sexual orientation”. The deputies asked the Commission to urgently enact a directive on all forms of discrimination as envisaged by Community Treaties. Emphasis was also placed on handicaps. In fact, the Parliament awaits “the development of the Community’s definition of disability enabling disabled people to enjoy equal rights regardless of where they live”. Burma, precedence to life. The European Parliament expressed its firm condemnation of Burma’s regime, viewed responsible for not having immediately intervened to aid the civil population hit by the Nargis cyclone. This attitude reached the extent of stopping international aid. “If the government continues preventing aids from reaching the Country, it will have to stand trial before the International Court for Crimes against humanity”. A resolution in this direction was supported by all political groups, except for the nationalist right-wing, gaining 524 ayes, only 3 noes and 13 abstentions. According to Strasbourg’s Assembly, the authorities of the Asian Country hit by the recent natural disaster, “ascribe greater importance to their own power than to citizens’ survival”. Whereas Burma’s government must “give precedence to the life” of individuals, enabling “international aids to reach the regions hit by the cyclone”. For this reason, “visas should be immediately granted to relief-workers. Humanitarian agencies and the UN must be allowed to distribute aid to all those in need, allowing neighboring Countries to deliver aids through air and maritime transport to the victims who cannot otherwise be reached”. More aid to earthquake victims in China. MEPs held a very different attitude towards China, at least as relates to the national authorities’ immediate help to the populations hit by the earthquake on May 12. A resolution approved with quasi-unanimous vote underlined the promptness shown in “emergency operations” and the availability in accepting international aid and relief. MEPs requested to “facilitate the work of humanitarian and volunteer organizations in aid-distribution”, ensuring access “to all those in need”. A positive view was expressed over the freedom of information regarding this sad event. The Council and the Commission are therefore exhorted to send new funds and means in the areas hit by the devastating earthquake which caused thousands of deaths, casualties and homeless. Are supermarkets changing consumption? Among the different addressed issues, the Euro-parliament took a stand on large commercial distribution. With a statement approved with majority-vote, the Commission is asked to “undertake a survey on the effects of supermarkets’ concentration in the EU upon small enterprises, suppliers, workers and consumers”. “The food distribution sector is ever-more dominated by a limited number” of chain department stores, the Assembly remarked. These are gradually becoming the “new guardians of the market”. The danger is that distribution sector’s concentration in the hands of few may damage the commercial system of Member States, especially as relates to retail-stores. However, other risks were envisaged: loss of community foods diversity, imposition of consumption models (especially in the food sector) which aren’t part of the tradition of the Old Continent along with problems for small farms.