Allister speaks on Human Rights
18 May 2006
Taking part in the European Parliament's annual debate on human right abuses throughout the world, DUP MEP Jim Allister chided the EU for having one rule for small countries and another for the large. The EU inserts clauses into trade and other agreements with third countries, which permit suspension if human rights abuses occur, but rarely acts upon them. This has been a particular focus of criticism by Mr Allister, who regularly uses the processes of the EU to raise religious persecution cases across the world, particularly in regard to China.
In the course of the debate Mr Allister said:-
"Another year, another report, but what real changes?
Still we trumpet human rights and democracy clauses in partnership agreements with third countries, but non-compliance largely goes unmarked. Apart from a single suspension in the case of relatively insignificant Uzbekistan, these clauses might as well not exist, especially with the major economic forces like China. There the value of trade persuades the EU to do less than it could about flagrant breaches of human rights and religious persecution. Such is the EU's awe of China that it could not even sponsor a critical resolution at the UN. Nor was Zimbabwe condemned at the UN for its mass forced evictions.
Yes, we talk the talk of human rights, but too often, it seems, we hold back because there are economic interests which we hold dearer."
