Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-02-12-Speech-3-296"
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"en.20030212.10.3-296"2
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"Mr President, I should like to add my congratulations to the rapporteur for the work he has done on this report.
I always find it somewhat amazing that on this graveyard shift on a Wednesday night, which Mr Harbour and I have shared on many occasions, we have ended up discussing perhaps one of the most important pieces of legislation that the European Union has passed, but the way this Parliament operates, that tends to be the way of things.
It is just over ten years now since the internal market came into operation. In that time, vast strides have been made towards the completion of the market. That said, however, there is still a long way to go. There are still a number of barriers - barriers to trade. We look at the different tax regimes in the Member States, whether it be indirect taxation or direct taxation - all are used as barriers to trade. We look at different employment legislation in Member States - this too is used as a barrier to trade. We look at our own failure to decide upon a Community patent - again that is a barrier to trade, but the solution there is in our own hands.
However, it is not only the free movement of goods that we should be concerned about. It is also about the free movement of workers, the free movement of labour. At the moment within the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Internal Market we are discussing the mutual recognition of professional qualifications. The sooner that is sorted out, the sooner another barrier will be removed.
In today's climate, however, there is another barrier. It is a barrier of fear and suspicion which has developed since 11 September, but was probably there beforehand. That is a barrier restricting the free movement of workers. We cannot allow ourselves to become a fortress Europe by setting up internal walls.
I was interested to hear what the Commissioner had to say. The onus is on him, however, to take a long hard look at every Member State to see where these countries, while proclaiming the benefits of the internal market, are at the same time blocking its completion by using internal rules to flout it. Most of the time this is for short-term political gain.
We have an opportunity to bring about the completion of the internal market. Commissioner, you challenged this Parliament to come up with a hard-hitting report which you have now got. We challenge you to finish the job – and you have our support."@en1
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