Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-06-15-Speech-4-045"
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"en.20000615.2.4-045"2
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"Mr President, I think the first thing we should do in this debate is thank the Portuguese Presidency for the way it is preparing to manage the debates at the Feira European Council, dealing with the agenda for the Intergovernmental Conference. Looking at the links between the various presidencies, that was an essential point, and the idea that ‘enhanced cooperations’ will henceforth be included on the agenda for that conference seems absolutely crucial to us.
We also think it is important to mention that the conference agenda is a full one, and we are expecting a positive result from it – a result which allows the European Union to operate in its present state. Some major issues have appeared on the scene since the conference was launched. They are essential, but they must not disrupt the conference agenda. We will debate those issues whatever happens. But these are two parallel exercises. Nothing should distract us from our real task at the Intergovernmental Conference, otherwise the Union will no longer be able to take decisions.
To be able to take decisions, we need significant progress on qualified majority voting. Enhanced cooperation cannot constitute an alternative. It is not a case of one or the other, we need both. The inclusion of enhanced cooperation on our Intergovernmental Conference agenda will force us to prolong the period of reflection. How are we going to organise democratic control of these ‘enhanced cooperations’? I also hope the Intergovernmental Conference agenda will be flexible enough for us to be in a position to add an item or two, here or there, depending on the progress of the work. I am thinking, of course, about the status of political parties. I am also thinking about the reform of Article 7.
Mr President-in-Office, as you engage in this important debate in Feira, let me tell you how concerned we are about the drafting of the Charter. Our fellow citizens have high expectations of the content likely to emerge from the work of the convention. In the current state of affairs, I see great division in the interpretation of the mandate given to the members of the convention by the Cologne European Council.
The debate initiated by President Herzog’s speech must clearly highlight the European Council’s commitment to the indivisibility of rights and the convention’s task of drafting a Charter rich in content, which respects the full Cologne mandate, civil and political rights, but also economic and social rights. Many of my colleagues say the Charter must be incorporated into the Treaty. Yes, but what use will it be to incorporate a Charter if the content is disappointing? First we must work on the content. That is our main task. But for that it seems to me we also need the debate at the Feira European Council to give us a political signal."@en1
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