By Anthony Fletcher - 24th September 2007
STRASBOURG: Socialist leader Martin Schulz outlined his group’s position on the key issues of immigration, consumer protection and the death penalty ahead of this week’s plenary session in Strasbourg.
Tomorrow’s key debate on immigration, he said, would allow Europe to set out a framework to deal with new demographic challenges.
“In 1999, 12 per cent of the world’s population lived in Europe, while in 2005, this figure was four per cent,” he said.
“If fertility rates continue, 96 per cent of the world’s population will not live in Europe."
The best way to deal with new pressure on immigration, said Schulz, was to develop what he called an “orderly form” of immigration.
“This is something Europe will have to deal with,” he said.
Schulz also echoed Socialist MEP Arlene McCarthy’s position on dangerous toys from China.
McCarthy, chair of the consumer protection committee, wants Europe to take a tougher stance following a number of product withdrawals.
“We have to have an early warning system put in place,” said Schulz.
“We have to have very specific rules for toys.”
The German MEP promised to address the issue of the death penalty in plenary tomorrow, saying that he was “shocked” that the European council could not achieve a common position on supporting a moratorium.
“People in high positions are in favour of the death penalty,” he said.
“How long must we accept this state of affairs?”
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