Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-07-04-Speech-2-165"
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"en.20000704.8.2-165"2
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"Mr President, firstly I would like to thank the rapporteur, Mrs Haug, for her excellent report. The report under discussion concerns Parliament’s provisional position on the budget in the conciliation talks that are to be held. Just as Mr Wynn said, the problems really mainly concern Category 4: External Action, and the reconstruction of the Balkans.
Last Spring the Commission proposed the so-called CARDS programme for the reconstruction of the Western Balkans. Its total value is EUR 5.5 billion. EUR 1.9 billion has already been found for the programme; of the remainder, EUR 1.4 billion would be found by the reallocation of Category 4 funds, and 1.8 billion by moving funds from the section of the budget dealing with agriculture. The sum to be reallocated is therefore approximately 5% of the total sum under Category 4, so that it may be technically possible, given there is sufficient political will. However, the use of agricultural expenditure for the reconstruction of Kosovo is not fair, as each EU citizen must play a part in the work and not just the farming community. In addition, the future needs of agriculture are hard to estimate, as the Agenda 2000 reforms are only just starting and the WTO talks are in their elementary stages.
The Commission’s proposal for the CARDS programme is explicit and our group supports it. EU Member States have to bear the responsibility for the reconstruction of the Balkans, as most of them were keen supporters of the military action there, and many also took part in it. Unless the countries of Europe help th–e inhabitants of the Balkans in their reconstruction work, honourably and vigorously, then this could result in a deep feeling of resentment and bitterness that could last for generations. Military action is always an extreme measure, and somebody must always suffer the consequences.
When the Interinstitutional Agreement between the Council and Parliament, which contained the financial perspectives for the years 2000 – 2006, was made, it was forecast that the reconstruction of Kosovo might call for ‘fresh’ resources. This is stated in point 3 of Mrs Haug’s report. The Council has, however, signalled that it will not adopt any amendment to the financial perspectives – not even between categories. The CARDS programme is so huge that it is impossible to adapt it to the present financial perspectives. There are two alternatives ahead: to fund just part of the programme, or table an amendment to the financial perspectives.
The Council is responsible for the reconstruction of the Balkans. If it merely promises money, but is not prepared to give it, its credibility as a global player shrinks. In that case Parliament will have to act within the framework of the financial perspectives, which will mean severe cutbacks in the CARDS programme."@en1
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