MEP delegation to inspect democratic progress

By The Nation

 

 

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are scheduled to visit Thailand next Monday and Tuesday to assess human and labour rights and the country’s return to democracy with the planned general election.

 

The delegation will “see what is being done to organise free and democratic elections in the country”, according to the MEPs’ press release on Friday, adding that several general election dates have been postponed since the military took power in 2014 coup.

 

The coup was a prime reason why the European Union froze political contacts with the kingdom until last December, when the ties were resumed following the junta’s promise to hold an election by February 2019.

 

The visit will take place in parallel with a delegation from the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee, who will visit the Justice and Labour ministries to assess the possibility of resuming an EU trade dialogue with Thailand.

“Negotiations on an EU-Thailand free-trade agreement would only be possible when a democratic shift has taken place in the country,” the press release added.

 

An EU delegation to Thai ambassador Pirkka Tapiola earlier said he was optimistic about making a breakthrough in free-trade talks with Thailand within four years, under an elected government.

 

The six-member delegation from Italy, Malta, Bulgaria, Germany and the United Kingdom will meet the government, NGOs and political parties, including Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.

 

They will also visit Samut Sakhon to observe Thailand’s efforts to address illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The EU is one of Thailand’s major seafood markets.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30350061

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-07-14

To the EU, Enough with the fishing investigations, make a stand or shut up!

A paid mini vacation. 

They have zero influence here anyway. 

Nice work for the MEP's. I am sure it will be a vigorous and thoroughly useful trip.......

MEP delegation to inspect fake democratic progress

fixed

 

 

I would have thought the manipulations done by Prayuth and Co, would forever consign them to electoral oblivion, and in a world of integrity it would do.

 

But this is an EU perilously close to saying Sayonara to the UK. Integrity is not top of it's pops right now, Free Trade Agreements are. So same as the Illegal Fishing, it will go back in the drawer until it needs bringing out again when Thailand stops playing nicely.

 

These people really are sewage, it's only the pipes they're in that differ.

2 hours ago, Small Joke said:

They have zero influence here anyway.

Incorrect.

China aside, of the remaining top three importers (Japan, NAFTA and EU) of Thailand products, EU has in the first five months of 2018 ranked second to third. http://www2.bot.or.th/statistics/BOTWEBSTAT.aspx?reportID=744&language=ENG

EU and the US have largely driven the Prayut government to pass legislation regarding human trafficking and IUU fishing as well as active measures to meet international compliance.

The EU will do nothing substantive against Thailand. Because, like Thailand (although to a less glaring and obvious degree) they are morally corrupt and care only about MONEY, when all is said and done.

 

So expect more empty words from the EU - and no noteworthy change in the direction of GENUINE democracy on the part of the junta.

'The delegation will “see what is being done to organise free and democratic elections in the country”'

 

Well, that won't take long at all.

Democratic elections with a stacked Junta parliament. 

so,  when will they begin true and total democracy in the EU ?       e.g.   recent Italian elections and the newly - elected coalition's choice of Finance minister - not pro-EU enough, so barred by EU place men (unelected).    And, many more examples.

 

This visit is not about reviewing Thailand's level of democracy,  It is nothing more than a freebe holiday at tax-payers expense.

18 minutes ago, bumpkin said:

when will they begin true and total democracy

"true and total"

A standard that no country has met. Only Norway comes closest, followed by Iceland.

https://infographics.economist.com/2018/DemocracyIndex/

Furthermore, the EU is not a country but a collective of democratic countries into a "union" of common sovereign interests. However, it does have a Parliament composed of national ministers (one per member state) that are elected to the European Parliament. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_to_the_European_Parliament

The answer to your question must be "never" as the question presents an irrational inquiry.

4 hours ago, Jonmarleesco said:

'The delegation will “see what is being done to organise free and democratic elections in the country”'

 

Well, that won't take long at all.

It's just a day trip. They'll be leaving on the return flight once it's been refuelled.

 

19 hours ago, Small Joke said:

A paid mini vacation. 

They have zero influence here anyway. 

Yep just a big holiday for them. I am sure the Junta will make sure they don't see the restrictions they have put on the country Free speech Controlled justice system. Would they care anyway? Just here for  a good time

19 hours ago, smutcakes said:

Nice work for the MEP's. I am sure it will be a vigorous and thoroughly useful trip.......

yeah you won't be able to wipe the smile off their faces after they visit LOS

1 minute ago, Happyman58 said:

19 hours ago, smutcakes said:

Nice work for the MEP's. I am sure it will be a vigorous and thoroughly useful trip.......

yeah you won't be able to wipe the smile off their faces after they visit LOS

Well not until they realise it was a woman of the second category...