Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-12-17-Speech-2-153"
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"en.20021217.5.2-153"2
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"With thrift and hard work you can build a palace. This ancient Dutch proverb is only partly applicable to the European Union budget for 2003, which will be set this week. I have no criticism to make of the hard work. The well thought-out result of the joint efforts of the Commission, the Council and this Parliament is commendable. No, I am more concerned with the first-mentioned virtue: thrift. In the resolution before us, Parliament appeals to the Commission to continue to pursue actively the reduction of arrears in payments, the improvement of programming through quarterly implementation and reporting plans, etc. All well and good. Time and again, an important question is overlooked, however. Namely the question of the effectiveness of the many lines where there are payment problems. We are convinced that the Commission is biting off much more than it can chew, actively encouraged by Parliament. The resolution talks of 'excessive surpluses'. Surely that must give us pause for thought. We are therefore gratified that in this case a start has at any rate been made on the reduction of set allocations and payments relating to structural measures. The high level of arrears, particularly in the field of the structural funds, must lead to a thorough pruning of unprofitable budget lines. That would be a real contribution to a more credible European Union financial policy.
In other policy fields, too, a substantial pruning of budget lines would be welcome, however. Particularly in the field of external operations many lines could be scrapped. Only if the European Union has added value in the foreign policy field is an operation worth considering. What, for example, is one to make of Amendment No 139 to line B7-6000? It argues for an earmarking of no less than EUR 20 million for autonomous and independent foundations in the European Union. In the justification, there is the coy remark that political foundations are ideally qualified for the activities mentioned. But in that case what do concepts like independence and autonomy mean? Other examples abound.
We shall single out here only Amendment No 147 to line B7-6312. After a previous discussion on embryos in the research framework programme, I must again broach an ethical question. This time it relates to abortion in the context of a programme for the promotion of sexual and so-called reproductive health and rights in developing countries. Officially the European Commission says that abortion cannot be financed as a method of family planning.
In practice, however, we find that things are not so clear-cut, for the European Commission cooperates with, and contributes to, the funds of organisations that include abortion among reproductive rights. Not to put too fine a point on it: abortion is being co-financed. I therefore appeal to you to decisively reject Amendment No 147.
This matter shows yet again that the financing of ethically controversial activities leads to problems. The European Commission should exercise more restraint in such questions.
In addition, the way in which the EU’s development policy complements that of the Member States is put into a new perspective. Surely it cannot be acceptable for the European Union to supplement the development cooperation of the Member States with activities not supported by the Member States themselves because they do not consider them responsible. Complementarity in this form leaves a nasty taste in my mouth. I am interested to hear the arguments of the European Commission justifying its indirect involvement in abortion.
Mr President, let us be thrifty, following the trust placed in us by our citizens, and apply thrift as well as hard work. After all, the citizen foots the bill."@en1
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