Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/1999-07-21-Speech-3-032"
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"en.19990721.3.3-032"2
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"(FI) Mr President, firstly I would like to offer my warmest congratulations on yesterday"s splendid election result. Ladies and gentlemen, the challenges of the German Presidency showed very clearly just how difficult and complex the world we live in is. The news of tragic events in Kosovo held our attention in the spring, and it came as a great relief when the Finnish President, Martti Ahtisaari, informed the Cologne Summit that the Yugoslav authorities would approve a peace plan for Kosovo. It is now very much the responsibility of the EU to start to rebuild the region and stabilise the situation there. The situation in the Western Balkans clearly shows that Europe needs a more effective course of action to ensure stability in this continent. A vital part of that process is the Union"s enlargement to include the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
The indisputable achievement of the German Presidency was the ultimate agreement that Agenda 2000 was vital for the issue of enlargement. It is important during the Finnish presidential term to get a clear indication of just how determined the EU is to make headway in the enlargement process. For that reason we must make a serious effort to introduce
much-needed institutional reforms. The German Presidency, and now the Finnish Presidency, which has just begun, have been overshadowed by an administrative crisis which culminated in the resignation of the Commission. We all certainly hope the crisis is a prelude to a genuine series of reforms in respect of the way things are done, not only in the Commission, but in the Council and in Parliament also. However, we have to remember that no headway can be made without a new Commission which is functioning successfully. Obviously, Parliament must make full use of its consultative and monitoring rights in respect of the institutions, including the Commission, but it also has to be aware of its responsibility in this important situation to ensure that the new Commission may begin its work as soon as possible. We must be particularly careful that national political passions do not predominate over the common European interest. Unfortunately, I think there have been signs of this in this debate.
The citizens of the European Union, our own citizens, who were disturbingly passive in the European parliamentary elections, hope, above all, that the Union will improve the situation regarding employment. A healthy rate of employment is also essential for the equitable development of our societies. For that reason, we must embark on the practical implementation of the European Employment Pact, which was concluded at Cologne. It is also important to pay close attention to ensuring that the economic policies of the EU Member States are compatible, and to developing courses of action in order to bring this about. That will be vital in ensuring that the employment rate rises."@en1
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"Iivari (PSE)"1
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