Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-11-14-Speech-3-335"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20011114.12.3-335"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:translated text |
"Mr President, sometimes in politics, we have to make a choice between something that is terrible and something that is unpleasant, and now is, in fact, one of those times.
A solution to the problem of cross-border payments is now really in sight, and that is surely something to be welcomed. Partly thanks to the tenacity of this Parliament, an arrangement will be put in place, and I think that the name of our rapporteur will remain inextricably linked with this. Her tenacity has largely resulted in the current proposal to do something about this problem. Consumers and businesses must be able to rely on efficient, safe and cheap services in the field of cross-border payments in the internal market once the new currency has been introduced. After all, this euro offers the opportunity of bringing Europe truly closer to the citizen, as was stated a moment ago, and of making Europe tangible. That is why it must be possible to use this currency as European currency without obstructions or excessive costs. Not one citizen will understand why the remittance of euros from one country to another involves such high costs. The banks are responsible for this, for that is where the problem lies. But, needless to say, it is not those banks, but we as politicians, who ultimately get the blame. After all, we have launched the euro, so we are saddled with the problem.
However, it is not just our problem, it is also the problem of the banks. In the first place, that is why the conversion must be as smooth as possible and it is therefore a good idea to concentrate all our efforts on that event. Banks must be able to give their full attention to the successful introduction of the euro notes and coins at the beginning of next year and after that, the euro zone can, in terms of payments, develop into one country with one market. In my view, the new amendments tabled by our rapporteur are particularly fitting in this connection, and we will be supporting them.
What we do not like in the proposal is that it could, of course, lead to a situation in which even the internal payments, which are, or at least seem to be, now mostly free, will become more expensive for the consumer. That too will do nothing to boost the euro’s popularity. It is therefore important to avoid this situation.
Finally, why is it a choice between two evils? We are not bankers and therefore do not know how bank charges should be calculated, nor do we want to know, in all honesty, for that is why we have bankers. Self-regulation is therefore the big favourite as far as our group is concerned. We have tabled an amendment in this connection. Should this not be accepted, and the banks have so far not been sufficiently prepared to do something about this, then these measures will unfortunately be inevitable."@en1
|
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples