The European Parliament has called on EU countries to get tough on the fight against child pornography on the Internet. In approving a report tabled by Yorkshire and the Humber MEP Timothy Kirkhope, the Parliament has backed a pan-European approach to the issue, calling on each member state to adopt similar standards for policing the Internet, specifically targeting the production, sale and distribution of child pornography. The resolution, which was approved by 453 votes to 1 against and 3 abstentions, says that police forces should be able to scan the Internet for child pornography combined with effective prosecution of offenders. Other recommendations include the need for all member states to introduce registers of persons convicted of the distribution of child pornography and the sexual abuse of children and the pooling of information between police forces across Europe. The proposal is now subject to final approval by EU member states.
A proposal to establish a European Refugee Fund to help with the reception, integration and voluntary repatriation of refugees and displaced persons has been backed by MEPs meeting this week in Strasbourg. The fund, which is to be initially set up for five years, would also be used to finance emergency measures to help one or more member states when faced by a sudden influx of refugees. The proposed budget for 2000 is 26 million euros and 10 million euros for emergency measures. The Parliament is insisting that the fund is not used to finance refugee detention centres. The proposal now requires the approval of EU countries before it comes into force.
The European Parliament today voted through draft EU legislation designed to tighten the rules on genetically modified products. The legislation which updates a 1990's directive concerns the licensing of GM products, risk assessment and labelling. Compromise positions won the day on three key issues addressed during Parliament's vote: civil liability, antibiotic-resistant genes, and gene transfers from GM products to other organisms. On the question of liability a majority of MEPs backed an amendment asking the European Commission to bring forward a proposal for EU-wide environmental liaibility rules before the end of next year. An amendment designed to establish strict civil liability for GM releases failed to secure enough votes. Parliament voted to phase out by 2005 antibiotic resistant genes which may have adverse effects on human health and the environment. An amendment seeking to ban such genes failed to get the necessary majority. A move to prevent gene transfers from GMOs to other organisms in the environment also failed during the vote. Instead, Parliament backed amendments calling for the assessment of the effect of gene transfers. Parliament is also seeking the setting up of public registers of GM crop sites and clear labelling of GM products. Parliament's report which was prepared by David Bowe MEP (Yorkshire and the Humber), together with the adopted amendments now go to EU ministers for consideration. The matter may be subject to further negotiation between the Parliament and EU Ministers, under what is known as the conciliation procedure, before the legislation is finally approved.