Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-12-17-Speech-1-095"
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"en.20011217.3.1-095"2
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"Mr President, I would like to continue this internal PPE-DE debate by focussing solely on the Laeken Declaration.
It is right, as the Declaration says, that European institutions should become closer to the citizens, less intrusive, less unwieldy and more efficient and open to democratic scrutiny. It is also right that a whole series of questions should be asked in terms of simplifying the process of legislation, on clarifying competencies of the Union and indeed restoring perhaps one or two to Member States, as is mentioned. How to involve the national parliamentarians too is a very important aspect and lastly, it is right, as the President of the Council said, that this is a new departure for Europe as a way of amending Treaties rather than having decisions made behind closed doors and smoke-filled rooms early in the morning.
There is a real doubt, however, that these statements of principle will actually become reality. Is the agenda, as some feel, already decided in advance? Will all the voices in the European political spectrum be heard? Will indeed, above all, the views of ordinary European citizens, be taken into account and listened to in the work of the Convention? There were some signs under the previous Presidency but not I am afraid under this one, that they did actually care about European citizens. It had a website – ‘Europa’ or whatever it was, – but we have not heard much about it under this Presidency. In the conclusions of the Council relating to the Convention, one paragraph is devoted to the forum and it seems to be more about informing the network of organisations than having their contributions in the work of the Convention.
I therefore make this one appeal today that in the praesidium, and perhaps helped by the Commission, national parliamentarians and others, we really should have a real European debate in the Member States involving European citizens so that when we end up with a constitutional framework, we really have something that Europeans can support. This is the only occasion in history, that I can think of, where citizens can be consulted before a constitution is drawn up rather than afterwards. So please, Commissioner, ensure that everything is done to make sure this European debate will actually take place."@en1
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