Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-03-13-Speech-3-315"
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"en.20020313.11.3-315"2
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"Mr President, first of all, I would like to make my excuses. It is true that I have to catch a plane, and also that in accordance with the Rules of Procedure, Questions to the Council end at 7 p.m. on the dot. Therefore, while I would love to be able to stay here longer, unfortunately on this occasion I cannot. In any event, I should like to say that the Presidency is here, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure, until the last minute it is required.
However, having said this, I shall be delighted to answer Mr Obiols’ questions because I believe them both to be very pertinent, especially, I am embarrassed to have to say, the second one.
With regard to the Euro-Mediterranean Conference, we continue to insist on the participation of Ministers from associated countries in the Mediterranean, Arab countries and Israel, and you have reminded us of last year’s embarrassment when only four EU Ministers out of the fifteen expected came to this meeting.
Mr Obiols is aware of the extent of Spain’s current concern about this issue, given that Spain was one of the countries that was represented at ministerial level at the Conference, and the extent of their concern as Presidency-in-Office, which is why we have taken all necessary steps with all Ministers concerned, and have repeated to them on various occasions that, with regard to this meeting, which will be important with regard to the revision of the Barcelona process, the physical presence of the Ministers responsible for Foreign Affairs in the European Union is absolutely crucial.
We have received guarantees from Ministers from all EU States that they will be in Valencia on these dates. I hope that when I myself or the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Piqué, give an explanation of the results from this meeting at the session immediately following the meeting or at the next session, we will be able to say that there was full participation, for if this is not the case, we will have to take a serious look at our own consciences. This European Parliament should really draw the attention of the EU governments to this matter.
With regard to the Euro-Mediterranean Development Bank, I am not in a position to give you any definitive plans at this moment. What I can tell you is that the Presidency of the European Union is very actively engaged in this regard at this present time, particularly the President-in-Office of the European Council, José María Aznar, by completing the visits we have made to all the EU capitals at the highest level and trying to find a satisfactory solution.
This all seems to hint that in Barcelona we could adopt an agreement on a formula that, as has been said from the start, would consist of creating a subsidiary of the European Investment Bank (EIB), which would have autonomy and furthermore would follow a process of evolution. It would start with a structure and several competences which would be increased over time. It would evolve into a more ambitious body than perhaps we could possibly have approved from the outset. Frankly, I believe that it is very possible that we will find a solution to this issue in Barcelona, because we would very much like to be able to put this plan forward in the ministerial meeting that will take place in Valencia with regard to the Barcelona process."@en1
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