Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-01-15-Speech-2-031"
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"en.20020115.1.2-031"2
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"Mr President, first of all, on behalf of the Group of the Party of European Socialists, I would like to congratulate you most heartily on your election. But more than just congratulating you, I would like to wish you the best of luck, because you are taking on the presidency of this Parliament after a hard-fought electoral battle with ourselves. Our group did not vote for you, but you are our President and we hope that you will carry out this task in the gentlemanly, impartial and graceful fashion which is typical of you.
We also believe that we have played an active role in demonstrating the principle of democracy to all European citizens. Democracy means opposing each other politically while respecting each other and maintaining our common values, and, in this regard, we are at an absolutely crucial moment. Why? Because we have affirmed our common values. I hope, Mr President, that you will defend the positions of the European Parliament in the Convention we are now starting on the future of Europe, and, above all, in the affirmation of our Charter of Fundamental Rights as an affirmation of this ‘community of values’. It is also true that we are the hosts of the Convention, because it is going to take place right here in this House. Fortunately, Parliament can already be seen as an open house for all Europeans, which you can defend strongly. And, in addition to supporting the views of the European Parliament, you should make it possible for our colleagues in the national parliaments to actively participate in this process, which is starting almost simultaneously with your presidency.
I am also thinking of those Europeans who want to share in this common adventure. I think that it is important that we treat them as if they were our own from the month of March without waiting for the ratifications to take place. They are going to be members of the Convention. We have to develop our relationship with them. We are now talking about an enlarged Union. But this is not the appropriate time to go into details. I have a great deal of confidence and hope in your inaugural speech, which will demonstrate to us the contribution your presidency will make to this process.
If you would also allow me, Mr President, I would like to thank all those who have actively and loyally collaborated in this electoral process. Firstly, to my Socialist colleague, David Martin, with whom I have had the opportunity to share responsibilities for quite a few years now, in the Parliamentary Bureau and in the presidency, to Francis Wurtz, who I think has been an open and noble candidate, to Gérard Onesta and Jens-Peter Bonde, who has been able to completely polarise the electoral process and then was, with a great deal of grace, able to offer you a bouquet of flowers. I had none prepared, Mr President.
In any event, I would like to express our congratulations as a group, our intention to offer you our loyal collaboration, in the hope that you will be the President of all Europeans for a Europe that is more progressive, with more social justice, sustainable development and, above all, a Europe in which we are able to lay the foundations for a Constitution for all Europeans."@en1
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