THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
My work on the Development Committee constantly reminds me of the devastation caused by internal conflict, which in many developing countries is the chief cause of poverty, malnutrition and despair. I was therefore glad to have the opportunity to meet the President of the International Criminal Court, the Canadian Judge, Philip Kirsch, and to make a contribution to the debate on the subject at The Hague.
If one person murders another he will, if convicted, rightly receive the most severe punishment known to the law, but if he murders a thousand people he has all too often in the past been able to claim that his conduct is political, or an "act of state," and escape any punishment at all.
Today wars between States are less likely, and our attention focusses more often on internal conflicts, where hundreds of thousands of people are systematically murdered, raped, enslaved and brutalised by their own Government, or by some rebel warlord acting against that Government, and sometimes by both.
In these situations the international community cannot stand aside, offering sympathy and aid to the victims, but taking no action to bring the criminals to justice. We have to take collective action, and we have to put into practice the basic principles of human rights which are universally recognised.
Britain already does more than its fair share to keep the peace and remedy injustice in the world, and the international community must make it clear to all brutal dictators, and rebel warlords alike, and to the people who work for them, that they will be held personally accountable for their actions. There must be no escape, and there must be no possibility of a comfortable retirement for such people on the proceeds of their crimes, accumulated in foreign bank accounts.
A great step forward was taken on 12th July 1998 when the Statute of the International Criminal Court was signed in Rome, which entered into force on 1st July 2002. I believe that the Court will soon be able to demonstrate that it is independent, highly professional, accountable and non-political, and that its proceedings are fully transparent.
ANIMAL WELFARE
I share the concerns of those who have written to me about this.
Earlier this year, animal transport proposals from the Commission were put before the Parliament, and we voted overwhelmingly to limit journey times to 9 hours. Improvements in the type of lorry, stocking density and rest periods were also supported by the Parliament, but when the proposals were discussed by national ministers at the EU Agriculture Council in April negotiations broke down and no agreement was reached.
On 22nd November the Dutch president of the Agriculture Council presented new proposals on the transport of live animals. These new proposals have been adopted and will bring into play some good, yet limited, measures that should improve the welfare of animals. However, journey times and space allowances - arguably the two areas that determine the amount of animal suffering more than any others - were left out of the text.
The British Environment Minister, Margaret Beckett, supported the Dutch proposal, but she did not demand that journey times and stocking density be discussed with urgency. Instead she advocated a four year delay before these issues will be revisited. Four years is too long to wait for improved animal welfare and I will press the Council to return to these topics during the British presidency next year.
With all good wishes as ever,
Nirj
|
RESULTS OF THE VOTES:
Motion for a Resolution - Climate Change
Spokesman: John Bowis MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
· This concerns the EU strategy for the 10th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP-10) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Buenos Aires in December.
· Conservatives will vote with the EPP-ED
Rothe - Instrument of financial support (Turkish Cypriot community)
Spokesman: Geoffrey Van Orden MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
· Despite approval by the Turkish Cypriot electorate, the UN's "Comprehensive Settlement of the Cyprus Problem" was rejected in a referendum in the Republic of Cyprus.
· Consequently, in April, the Council stated that it was "determined to put an end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community and to facilitate the reunification of Cyprus by encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community".
· As a result, the Commission proposed a package of financial assistance to the Turkish Cypriot community (of €259 million).
· Conservatives believe that the EU must take concrete measures to assist the Turkish Cypriot community as a matter of urgency. Not only must financial assistance be provided, but provisions facilitating direct trade with northern Cyprus should also be adopted.
Rovea i Rueda - Arms exports
Spokesman: Geoffrey Van Orden MEP
Adopted - Conservatives against
· Conservatives believe that the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports has operated effectively since 1998 as a politically binding instrument. The UK already has adequate laws in this area and we want to encourage other EU Member States to meet our own high standards.
· We are opposed to the Code becoming legally binding because we believe that the fine political decisions required in this area are better made by Ministers rather than judges.
Roure - ARGO Programme (LIBE) (Consultation Procedure)
Spokesman: Timothy Kirkhope MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
· This proposes revising the ARGO programme by addressing specific structural weaknesses to provide better allocation of financial support to national projects in the area of external borders. These would be identified in agreement with the Member States on the basis of risk assessments.
Corbey - Packaging and packaging waste (ENVI) (Codecision - 1st Reading)
Spokesman: Caroline Jackson MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
· This offers acceding Member States an extended deadline until December 31st 2012 to achieve the targets set in the revision of Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste.
De Rossa - Activities of the European Ombudsman (2003) (PETI)
Spokesman: Sir Robert Atkins MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
· This is an account of the Ombudsman's activities in 2003 and the first Annual Report to be presented by Mr. Diamandouros since being elected Ombudsman in January 2003.
· Conservatives will vote with the EPP-ED.
