Tuesday, 12 June 2012 - Strasbourg

Rapporteur: Ricardo Cortés Lastra (A7-0159/2012)

Pino Arlacchi (S&D ), in writing . − Dear Mr. President, I voted for this report because I agree with the need of finding new channels of development cooperation between the European Union and the Latin American Region. The EU is the principal donor of development aid, the principal investor and the second trading partner in the region. The EU aid to Latin America throughout these years has contributed positively to the efforts of each country to consolidate their Rule of Law and to reduce their pressing poverty issues. Now is not the time to abandon them but to redirect cooperation where it is needed the most in order to address poverty reduction through the Development Cooperation Instrument and the new Partnership Instrument.

[source:www.europarl.europa.eu]

Tuesday, 12 June 2012 - Strasbourg

Rapporteur: Ivailo Kalfin (A7-0167/2012)

Pino Arlacchi (S&D ), in writing . − Thank you Mr. President, I abstained in the vote of this text because it proposes a comprehensive strategy to fight something that many experts don't consider as a serious threat. Cyber terrorism is indeed an exaggerated threat and for this reason I believe that Europe should not consider this issue as priority vis-à-vis most serious security matters.

[source:www.europarl.europa.eu]

Thursday, 14 June 2012 - Strasbourg

Resolution RC-B7-0304/2012

Pino Arlacchi (S&D ), in writing . − Dear Mr President, With this text we call upon the UN General Assembly to adopt a resolution at its 67th session with a view to banning female genital mutilation worldwide. It is important to reiterate that any form of female genital mutilation is a harmful traditional practice that is not part of a religion but is an act of violence against women and a violation of their fundamental rights. This practice is an irreparable abuse that intentionally alters female genitals for non-medical reasons. Expert analysis shows that in the word more than 140 million women alive today are living with female genital mutilation and that further three million girls are at risk of undergoing the procedure each year. Only in Europe the women subjected to this practice are around 500 000. For this reason Member States must take a firm action to combat this illegal practice and the Commission should give specific attention to female genital mutilation as part of an overall strategy for combating violence against women.

[source:www.europarl.europa.eu]

Tuesday, 12 June 2012 - Strasbourg

Pino Arlacchi (S&D ). - Madam President, the international community devotes a great amount of time and resources to the issue of weapons of mass destruction that have a very small chance of being used. Countries are invaded and wars are fought for a threat that is largely improbable. At the same time, conventional weapons and small arms kill tens of thousands of people every year and this issue is almost unnoticed.

Tuesday, 12 June 2012 - Strasbourg

Pino Arlacchi (S&D ). - Mr President, can I say to Mrs Ashton that I largely share her view of the Syria crisis and I share in particular her stress on the Annan Plan as the only viable solution on the ground for this crisis.

Thursday, 29 March 2012 - Brussels

Proposition de résolution B7-0187/2012

Pino Arlacchi (S&D ), in writing . − Dear Mr President, I voted for this report because I support its aim to stress the European perspective of Kosovo. This perspective can be a powerful incentive for the several reforms that Kosovo needs to undertake in many sectors. I support this Report in spite of some of its drawbacks. For example, it would have been better to emphasize that the EU mission in Kosovo is not performing its mission in a satisfactory way. So far little or no detailed investigation has been carried out into organised crime and its connections with the political institutions.

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 - Brussels

Pino Arlacchi (S&D ). - Mr President, I support this resolution because I am in favour of full EU membership for Turkey and because I am convinced that its accession process should be completed as soon as possible. I have heard many objections to this process and I believe many of them are well grounded, but I believe also that these objections are overshadowed by three facts.

Thursday, 29 March 2012 - Brussels

Pino Arlacchi (S&D ), in writing . − Dear Mr. President, I welcome the decision of the Council to grant Serbia EU candidate status and I support this Resolution because it is essential to uphold the progress achieved by this country in the reform process. Serbia is the crucial actor in guaranteeing security and stability in the region. I believe, therefore, that accession negotiations should be opened with Serbia as soon as possible, bearing in mind that further advancements in the European integration process are dependent on the improvement of democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights.

Thursday, 29 March 2012 - Brussels

Propositions de résolution - RC-B7-0178/2012

Pino Arlacchi (S&D ), in writing . − Dear Mr. President, I voted for this resolution because the recent deterioration of the political situation in Belarus must be condemned. Since the presidential elections of 19 December 2010, despite repeated calls from the international community, repressive measures have been taken against members of the democratic opposition, the free media, civil society activists and human rights defenders.

Thursday, 15 March 2012 - Strasbourg

Explanations of vote:
Projekt rezolucji: RC-B7-0131/2012

Pino Arlacchi (S&D ), in writing . − Dear Mr. President,I voted for this resolution because the recent violence in Nigeria, carried out by the Boko Haram criminal cartel must be strongly condemned by the international community. Boko Haram is blamed for the deaths of more than 900 people in roughly 160 separate attacks since July 2009. A contribution to put a definitive end to this awful situation is a wider examination of the root causes of the conflict. It is essential to avoid simplistic explanations based only on the label “terrorism” or “religion”.