Seán Kelly (PPE). – Mr President, impunity, violence and security threats have hindered progress towards more efficient law enforcement in Guatemala, whereas human rights defenders have been subjected to numerous forms of abuse and even murder, as has been outlined by some of my colleagues, one of whom actually visited Guatemala. This is not acceptable, and we have to speak out against it. Also, the participation of Guatemalans in the drug-supply and illegal-migration route between Central America and the United States is a matter of major concern, leading to all kinds of corruption, violence, murders and misery for thousands of people.

Therefore with my parliamentary colleagues, I wish to express my support for law-enforcement efforts and a strengthening of the judiciary in Guatemala. Also, as my colleague Mr Svoboda pointed out, if we are providing development aid we should just insist on certain standards. I think sometimes we are too easy and too slack in this regard and it is something that I think we really have to look at where there are continuous abuses of human rights, and indeed murder, of those who are trying to defend human rights.