Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-10-03-Speech-2-020"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2000-10-03"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Preparation for the informal European Council in Biarritz of 13/14 October/Charter of Fundamental Rights2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20001003.2.2-020"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2000-10-03-Speech-2-0212
lpv:speaker	lp:Gerard Collins2
lpv:spoken text	"Madam President, the decision of the Danish people on 28 September on participation in the European currency regime will undoubtedly figure at the Biarritz European Council meeting. EU Member State governments must now seriously reflect on what has happened in Denmark. The Danish decision comes two months before EU leaders are to meet in Nice to reform existing EU treaties and policies. I support the enlargement of the European Union. It will help consolidate democratic and civil structures in eastern and central Europe, expand market economies and help build a European continent at peace with itself. However, EU Member State governments face difficult choices. We cannot deny that the Danish people used the recent referendum as a test of confidence in the structures of the European Union. The referendum in Denmark had more to do with the direction of the European Union and future political integration than actually participating in the Euro currency itself. Serious concern was expressed among Danish voters that the elimination of tax vetoes within the European Union would dissipate future social security benefits. I do not necessarily support this. However, the point remains the same: namely that the European Member State governments, the European Commission and the European Parliament have a serious battle on their hands to persuade the 370 million citizens of the European Union that greater political and economic integration is the way forward for the European Union. This is the core issue. If Member State governments push the issue of political integration too far in Nice, we will have real difficulties in securing approval in the referendums which will have to be held in various European Union countries. Any reform of European Union treaties must be fair and balanced. It must protect the interests of the smaller Member States, and we must not help build a two-tier Europe where larger Member States run the European Union at the expense of the smaller Member States. We must also protect national cultural and linguistic diversity."@en1
lpv:spokenAs	vice-chair; UEN (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 unknown; Fianna Fáil Party (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 chair; Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia and the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) (1999-07-22--2002-01-14)3 member; Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 member; Conference of Delegation Chairs (1999-07-22--2002-01-14)3 substitute; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"Collins (UEN )."1

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