Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-10-24-Speech-3-024"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2001-10-24"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:European Council meeting (Ghent, 19 October 2001)2
dcterms:Language	"da"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20011024.1.3-024"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2001-10-24-Speech-3-0252
lpv:speaker	lp:Jens-Peter Bonde2
lpv:spokenAs	substitute; Delegation to the European Economic Area Joint Parliamentary Committee (EEA) (1999-09-29--2002-01-14)3 member; Delegation for relations with Switzerland, Iceland and Norway (1999-09-28--2002-01-14)3 member; AFCO (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 unknown; JuniBevægelsen (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 chair; EDD (2001-01-30--2004-07-19)3 member; Conference of Presidents (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3
lpv:translated text	"Madam President, Prime Minister and President of the Commission, at the Ghent Summit we saw the trinity, or ‘dictorium’, of the big three countries make an appearance. The preliminary meeting between Great Britain, France and Germany suggests a model that is as far from the federalists’ vision, or illusion, of a democratic federal State as it is from the Eurosceptics’ more realistic desire for a Europe of democracies. Cooperation between the big three is engaged in on an intergovernmental basis, behind closed doors and without democratic control. In this way, the big three decide what the others are to think. For the small countries, intergovernmental cooperation between the big countries may come across as supranational dictates. The summits are also conducted behind closed doors and without democratic control. European integration is now modelled on the way in which private holding companies operate. A minority of the largest shareholders is able to make decisions on behalf of the majority. Cooperation can thus be intergovernmental and supranational at one and the same time and combine the defects of these arrangements with the maximum lack of openness, democracy and proximity to the people. The summits must be transformed into well-prepared meetings in which small and large countries and all parliaments have an equal part to play in the preparations. Summits must be opened up to elected representatives so that representatives of the national parliaments are able to exercise democratic control by being present there. Summits should also be opened up to the press whenever prime ministers discuss legislation and other issues which, in our Member States, are dealt with openly. Mr Verhofstadt is still a young prime minister from a country that has traditionally opposed the big countries’ dictatorial way of thinking. Have nothing to do with this, Prime Minister! Invite elected representatives to the next summit in Laeken. Do not make a decision to begin a constitutional process without its first having been discussed with the electorate in our countries. Let the next treaty be formulated through the input of grassroots contributions instead of its coming like a thief in the night to limit our democracy. Make sure, too, that the 49% of the electorate that voted against Maastricht in France and the majority of the electorate who recently voted ‘no’ in Ireland and Denmark can feel they are properly represented in the forthcoming convention. Promise, above all, that the next treaty will be subject to referendums in all the countries. In that way, you will be obliged to design a treaty that can be adopted, that is to say, a treaty characterised by openness, democracy and proximity to the people."@en1

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