Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/1999-12-14-Speech-2-218"
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"en.19991214.9.2-218"2
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"Mr President, the EU’s Budget for the year 2000 is a genuine step in the right direction. Let us not forget that the priorities we are setting relate to important matters. We are investing in environmentally friendly agriculture, in the protection of animals and plants and in safe food. We are increasing our efforts in support of vulnerable groups and in the fight against poverty in Europe. We are investing in the fight against unemployment and, especially, in local employment initiatives. We are preparing for the enlargement of the European Union to include new Member States and we emphasise that this process must be given a broadly citizen-oriented dimension. The dialogue between the two sides of industry in the labour market must be extended to include the applicant States, and we want the Committee of the Regions to have the chance to develop a dialogue at local and regional level. I myself have tabled a proposal concerning a means of achieving decentralised cooperation around the Baltic.
In spite of setting these priorities, we have nonetheless succeeded in reducing our budget commitments. It was therefore naturally depressing that, as late as yesterday, we had not reached a final conclusion, despite the significant degree of essential unity. I personally have been hoping for a compromise all this time. We ought of course to be able to reach a compromise because, in my view, Parliament has already moved a long way in order to achieve this. We have set aside the position we had adopted on principle to the effect that we ought now, before the year 2000, to revise the budget ceilings. This is because the Council wants to add major new items of expenditure in connection with Kosovo, East Timor and Turkey, among other issues.
We have accepted large reductions in payments in spite of the fact that we already have a mountain of payments before us. It is not possible to decide upon major commitments year after year and then not, in fact, to pay out. In spite of our opposition to linear cutbacks in aid, we have agreed to make substantial reductions, but of a more targeted nature.
It is important to note here that there is not in fact any prevailing disunity on the subject of Kosovo. I am therefore pleased that the Council now seems to be coming back to Parliament and approving our proposals. The people of Kosovo ought not to continue to suffer because we cannot agree about the Budget.
Now, there is one more thing that is important. If we are going to cope successfully with the future, with the enlargement of the European Union and with developments in the Balkans over the next few years, then we must find a better way of cooperating. Let us learn from the debate we have now had."@en1
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