Strasbourg, 13/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - During the debate held by the European Parliament on Tuesday on the results of the preparatory meeting in Bali, concern was expressed about the risk that the Johannesburg Summit would fail. The debate opened with declarations on behalf of the Spanish Presidency by the Secretary of State for European Affairs, Ramon de Miguél, who sought to be reassuring saying that there was still time before the summit scheduled for 26 August to 4 September. On the European side, the General Affairs Council should, on Monday, mainly tackle the issues of coherence in Community policies, and the abolition of subsidies that are detrimental to the environment, he recalled. He went on to stress that there was still no consensus on the compulsory or non-compulsory nature of such abolition. A position will then be taken in Seville. Ramon de Miguél also stressed the "lack of clarity so far in the aims of the international community" and the fact that the United States hopes to "minimise the political aspects" of the Johannesburg Summit. The Presidency hopes that the European Union will play a role similar to its role in Monterrey. Margot Wallström, European Environment Commissioner, said she feared that Johannesburg "could be dominated by bitter exchange". She called on the Union, on one hand, to "overcome its own divisions" and, on the other, to "play a leading role" by supporting South Africa and by finding partners essential for overcoming obstacles between developed countries and developing countries. The EU wants the definition of clear objectives, the establishment of links between the political commitments, the action programmes and their implementation, she stressed.
Jorge Moreira da Silva, speaking for the EPP, said he was very disappointed by the results from Bali. A failure in Johannesburg would be "disgraceful", he said, considering that "only the EU is going to the Summit with the determination to reach an ambitious commitment for sustainable development". Anneli Hulten (for the PES) congratulated the Commission on its work, but criticised the Council which "stood out by its absence and its lack of enthusiasm". Paul Lannoye, speaking for the Greens/EFA, specified that he was not necessarily against the partnership agreements with private enterprise, but that the latter must not replace the voluntary policies of governments, contrary to the wishes expressed by some, and "above all by the United States". He also asked the EU to change its policies "which prevent sustainable development", mainly agricultural subsidies.