Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-03-20-Speech-3-068"
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"en.20020320.6.3-068"2
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".
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, on 27 February the President, Mr Prodi, told you about the decisions taken by the Commission that day, most importantly the Commission’s policy priorities for 2003 and the Commission’s requirements in terms of human and financial resources.
But the Commission has decided to give priority to another area of action: first and foremost, stability and security. Inside the Union our main objective is to speed up the creation of a European area of justice, security and freedom. The fight against crime, in all its forms, including terrorism, and today more than ever it is once again appropriate to repeat that terrorism is included, is, and will remain, at the top of our agenda.
We should continue to pay particular attention to immigration and all the complex effects that it brings with it. Solidarity with those who are trying to find a better life for themselves and their families must go hand in hand with a firm and orderly management of migratory flows at European level. We need collaboration on border controls, exchange of information and common rules to govern the entry and re-entry of immigrants, and we also need to harmonise the rules governing the movement, handling, lives and conduct of all immigrants.
Outside the EU, another of our main priorities is to extend stability and security throughout the continent and to the regions bordering on the enlarged Union. To achieve this, it is once again essential that we strengthen our partnerships with all neighbouring countries.
Our third priority for 2003, Mr President, is a sustainable and socially inclusive economy. There are signs of recovery in the not too distant future. However, the pace and strength of this recovery will also depend on how resolutely the Union implements the Lisbon Strategy. The external dimension of this strategy is particularly important as it can help us to manage globalisation. Our contribution should be directed towards distributing the fruits of recovery to as many countries as possible.
Ladies and gentlemen, another of the Commission’s political priorities is solving the issue of inadequate human and financial resources, which can no longer be deferred. The Annual Policy Strategy does not, therefore, simply identify our main political priorities, but also aims to ensure that the Commission has adequate resources for that task. As President Prodi said on 27 February, this Commission will not undertake any mandate without having the necessary resources. This is quite simply because it would set us up for failure.
At this point we cannot properly prepare for enlargement without more staff. So, after a rigorous screening exercise, the Commission has included in the Annual Policy Strategy a request for 500 non-permanent staff. It will be clear to you that this is a rock-bottom figure, still well below what we need to carry out enlargement-related tasks in 2003.
We all know that the current ceiling for administrative expenses does not allow sufficient resources to prepare for enlargement. So the Commission considers it essential to use the flexibility instrument. It is not enough, but it is all we have.
We also have two other major aims: security and establishing a policy to promote a sustainable economy, which give the Commission more responsibilities. However, to avoid having to ask for yet more staff we have decided to approve initiatives only if they can be carried out by internally redeploying our existing staff or simply by terminating some activities that are being conducted. Mr President, this shows how seriously and rigorously the Commission is committed to its priorities, without ignoring budgetary discipline.
On the financial resources side, I would like to point out that the Commission and the Budgetary Authorities must urgently find a structural solution to the chronic inadequacy of Heading 4, external relations. These tasks cannot be done properly under the current constraints.
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, today the Commission is setting out the main areas of work. This debate will be followed by debates in each of the committees, which will be attended by the Commissioners along with their members. This will be the time to further define and prepare those main areas of work.
As we said then, this year, for the first time, the three main institutions will conduct an in-depth dialogue on policy priorities and on the legislative and working programme for the coming year.
In any case, allow me to thank you on behalf of the whole Commission for your constructive and practical contribution to ensuring the best possible management of our priorities for 2003.
The dialogue will be conducted on the basis of the new understanding presented to the Conference of Presidents on 31 January and a new Council consultation procedure.
On 4 March we outlined the policy priorities for 2003 at the General Affairs Council, and we are involved in a structured coordination of work with the Greek and Italian Presidencies so as to achieve the best possible results with medium-term programming.
What we want to do is to base programming on a political dialogue with Member State representatives and citizens, thus using as a foundation the exercise of the Commission’s exclusive right of initiative under the Treaty, in a process in which the different positions participate, and are listened to, as much as possible.
Of course in the final analysis the Commission must, I repeat, shoulder the responsibility laid on it by the Treaty. But we shall exercise that prerogative in a way that is not only politically responsible, but also honest. It should be done out in the light of day, not with a shopping list of “good” intentions negotiated in the backrooms of any of the institutions.
In this respect I would like to urge the President of Parliament and Parliament as a whole to continue in their political efforts to promote the institution of Parliament as the supreme organ of democratic debate and codecision that can rise above questions of mere detail and of simply defending a few specific positions.
As you know, the Commission has set itself three priorities for 2003: firstly, enlargement, secondly, stability and security, and thirdly, a sustainable and socially inclusive economy.
From the time that it took up office, the Commission has been committed to the success of the enlargement process. Because enlargement remains a fundamental priority for the second half of our mandate. From this point of view, 2003 will be a crucial year: we have to prepare to welcome into the Commission all the representatives, all the Commissioners from the new Member States and tackle the fresh challenges facing the Union."@en1
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