Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-10-26-Speech-4-038"
Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
---|---|
rdf:type | |
dcterms:Date | |
dcterms:Is Part Of | |
dcterms:Language | |
lpv:document identification number |
"en.20001026.2.4-038"2
|
lpv:hasSubsequent | |
lpv:speaker | |
lpv:translated text |
"If the European Parliament were a real parliament, and if Europe were something more than a monetary and free-trade area, then the European budget would represent a great deal more than 1% of GDP. That kind of budget would be needed to harmonise social security systems and implement coordinated policy on energy and transport. It would be funded by the standardised taxation of capital. But it is no good dreaming: the Europe of today is dominated by neo-liberal dogma which seeks to reduce state subsidies and the Structural Funds to the strict minimum. Instead of controlling the erratic movements of capital, the priority is ‘structural reforms’ actually aimed at privatising and deregulating anything still left to be privatised and deregulated.
The real surprise in this budget relates to external actions, where selfishness and stinginess are the rule. Europe has a special responsibility to the Balkans and the south of the Mediterranean. Contributions that are relatively minor for our richest countries could have a strategic role for peace and development in those regions, yet the choice has been to make significant cuts, which looks like a dangerous policy of burying our heads in the sand. That is why we voted in favour of the motion to reject this budget, contrary to the guidelines proposed."@en1
|
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples