Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-09-20-Speech-3-040"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2000-09-20"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Measures to be taken following the fuel crisis and the rise in oil prices2
dcterms:Language	"fr"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20000920.4.3-040"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2000-09-20-Speech-3-0412
lpv:speaker	lp:Francis Wurtz2
lpv:spokenAs	substitute; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 unknown; Parti communiste français (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; Conference of Presidents (1999-10-13--2004-07-19)3 member; BUDG (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 member; Members from the European Parliament to the Joint Parliamentary Assembly of the Agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union (ACP-EU) (1999-09-14--2002-01-14)3 chair; EUL/NGL (1999-10-13--2004-07-19)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, Commissioner, it is my impression that this so-called fuel crisis reveals a number of structural problems which the European Union and the fifteen Member States should be dare to examine in every possible aspect. The first of these problems concerns our relations with the South, in the event the producer countries. Did Europe worry, at the beginning of last year, about the disastrous consequences for the economies and populations of a number of these countries when the price of a barrel of oil fell to less than USD 10? This was hailed as good news when, in fact, the situation was just as worrying as an increase in the price to USD 34. We need to establish a genuine long-term partnership between these countries and ourselves. And then, all the other root causes of the current situation need to be looked at: cases of speculation, the inadequate stocks in the United States and the fall in the value of the euro. The second problem revealed, in my view, by this crisis is the lack of coherence between our strategy choices within the Union. The talk nowadays is of giving priority to rail over road transport and going in for piggybacking. That is basic, a real social choice and an ecologically responsible act in the strongest sense of the term. But for how long has exactly the opposite strategy been adopted, with road transport being pushed hard at the expense of rail? Europe is so little prepared for this development that, today, you still have to change trains between France and Italy because the value of electrical current supply in the two countries are incompatible. The third fundamental problem illustrated spectacularly by this crisis is the extreme difficulty many European leaders have in making an accurate assessment of grass-root demands. They have not seen, or have not wanted to see, the serious problems which this rise in fuel costs presented for people obliged to use their cars or dependent upon domestic fuel oil. Our fellow citizens are not prepared to shoulder the burden of this economic crisis, and they are protesting at the way in which countries have indulged the oil companies, even though the latter have been quite shameless in the profits they have been making. More and more pressure is going to be exerted in favour of a reduction in fuel tax and an appropriate levy on oil companies’ profits. The majority of my group is of the view that the Fifteen ought to take radical environmental measures, effectively promoting rail transport while responding, in the present context, to this legitimate social expectation. In so doing, they would also do Europe what I think is a currently much needed service."@en1

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