Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-10-23-Speech-2-058"
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"en.20011023.4.2-058"2
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"Mr President, I am pleased to have the opportunity to address Mrs Weiler's report. She has identified unemployment as one of the most serious economic and social problems faced by the European Union. This was true prior to 11 September. It has now become an even more stark reality in the aftermath and against the background of continuing economic uncertainty which results from war.
One in 12 EU citizens is unemployed today. This is an intolerable situation and one which is of great concern to all of us. Indeed, unemployment rates are much higher in some Member States. Solving the problem of unemployment requires active labour market measures. Labour markets do not always function efficiently, and Member States must be prepared to take up their responsibilities when the need arises. The Luxembourg process of employment guidelines is intended to give the Member States a powerful stimulus in shaping their employment policies.
In the short time available to me I want to focus on recent events, but firstly I want to say that a number of key European industries are facing unprecedented difficulties. Every effort must be made to secure the maximum number of jobs. Hardest hit at the moment is the airline industry but we must not forget the tourist industry which has already suffered greatly this year from foot-and-mouth disease. In the case of the Irish national airline, Aer Lingus, 40% of their business and 60% of their profits are generated on trans-Atlantic routes. Ireland's location as an island state in the north-west periphery of the Union creates a particular set of circumstances to which I would urge the Commission to give full consideration. The collapse of Aer Lingus simply cannot be permitted. The economic and social consequences would be unparalleled in any other Member State in the Union, and the knock-on effects to related industries would be enormous. The fact that we are an island state without any linkage to the rest of Europe means that we require this. The Commission must look at this sympathetically and favourably."@en1
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