Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-10-24-Speech-3-016"
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"en.20011024.1.3-016"2
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"Madam President, last Friday’s discussions were not restricted to current international events. The work session on Friday afternoon also dealt with the economic situation and the imminent introduction of euro notes and coins.
Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the next European Council will meet in exactly 50 days. Ghent was an informal Council in the true sense of the word, which will certainly help us to make great progress in Laeken, in other words, to develop a common policy on asylum, immigration and justice, to declare operational the common foreign and security policy, to move closer towards enlargement and – which I think the most important thing – to adopt an ambitious declaration on the future of Europe.
The slowdown in growth, which, we must reiterate, had already started before 11 September, and the longer-term uncertainty tell us that we must be careful. The foundations of the economy, however, remain healthy, which inspired both myself and the Council to be cautiously optimistic.
It is essential that Europe – which has no budgetary surplus – observes the Stability and Growth Pact. Low inflation and permanent wage moderation are enabling the EU to make room for manoeuvre on monetary policy. We must, however, intensify our efforts in terms of structural reform and accelerate the Lisbon process in order to strengthen the growth potential of the European Union.
With regard to the physical introduction of euro notes and coins, preparations are well underway. We have, however, identified a few problems, particularly concerning preparations by local authorities and small businesses. We do not want consumers to experience any negative effects.
The introduction of euro notes and coins must not bring about price increases. The European Council additionally asked the ECOFIN Council to adopt a regulation before the Laeken Summit to ensure that the costs of cross-border financial transactions are reduced and brought into line with national rates.
During the second part of our meeting, we discussed the issues relating to the future of the European Union and the Laeken Declaration. I think it is true to say that we made significant progress. There is now broad consensus, also at the specific request of the European Parliament, on the principle of a convention. This Convention will be able to begin its work in March of next year. I believe that we have agreed on this approach. We also agreed that the candidate countries would fully participate in this Convention. However, they will be unable – and I think this goes without saying – to question the proposals on which the Fifteen have already unanimously agreed. I also believe that the key to the success of this Convention lies in it having a very small leadership and a limited number of delegations. Furthermore, in the near future, I plan to invite the chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs and the rapporteurs of the European Parliament, in order to have a frank and detailed exchange of views with them on the future of the European Union.
Madam President, I do not believe that the Laeken Declaration must be a conventional declaration, and it must, above all, be a source of inspiration. First of all, it must be based on a critical analysis, in order to reveal the true challenges facing an enlarged and competent Union, which include the redistribution of competences in both directions – in other words, towards the European Union as well as towards the Member States – a solution to the proliferation of instruments in the European Union, institutions that are more democratic and which ensure, amongst others, a full co-decision procedure involving the European Parliament, the first steps of a process that leads to the treaties being divided into one fundamental treaty and several executing treaties and, lastly, a new position and a new role for the European Union on the world stage. In my view, there are no taboo subjects as far as this Convention is concerned and no stone can remain unturned.
At Ghent, we also – and lastly, because this was the final topic we dealt with – gave an update on the progress made in the negotiations with the candidate countries. The President of the Commission, Mr Prodi, presented a positive report to us on this issue. There is no reason to fear, in my view, that the proposed schedule will not be observed. In any case, I intend to send an additional message to the candidate countries in my speech at the Laeken Summit. I met the new Polish prime minister yesterday and urged him to step up efforts so that Poland can once again take up its rightful place in the negotiations, because, following the events of 11 September, enlargement is needed now more than ever before.
I would now like to give a general report on the Council meeting. The streets were calm. Ghent has, however – this is the truth, and I know as I live there – a rather turbulent history. The reason for this may be because Charles the Fifth was born there! Whatever the reason, my overriding desire is to continue dialogue with the anti-globalisation protesters. I think it is true to say that the term ‘anti-globalisation’ is, in fact, inaccurate. We must take a different approach – not towards blind globalisation or anti-globalisation, but rather towards a well-defined globalisation. This is a different kind of globalisation; it is an ethical globalisation. Madam President, I am organising a debate on this subject at the University of Ghent on 30 October 2001."@en1
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