Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-03-11-Speech-2-027"
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"en.20030311.3.2-027"2
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"Mr President, Commissioner Schreyer, ladies and gentlemen, I should like to support the position adopted by the Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats with regard to Mr Mulder’s report on the 2004 budget guidelines. My remarks are also addressed to the representatives of the Council although they do not appear to be present.
Thanks are due to the rapporteur for his ideas and for the care he has taken to include most of the ideas expressed by others into the report. My group fully endorses the report. Indeed we support it so strongly that we have not tabled a single amendment to it in the House. We trust that only a limited number of the amendments tabled by other groups will be adopted.
Turning to a more contentious issue, as the rapporteur mentioned, the 2004 budgetary period will be unusual throughout. Initially, the budget will apply to 15 Member States. At the close of the period it will, however, apply to 25. This will call for an additional effort to reach understanding between the three institutions, whereas relations are currently somewhat strained.
Times are hard for Europe and even harder for the wider world. The 2004 budget should represent a statement of faith in ourselves. We should be confident of our potential and abilities as Europeans. Further, the 2004 budget should help to strengthen Europe’s role and influence beyond its borders. This is sorely needed as our common foreign policy, its instruments and even the individuals charged with operating them appear to have gone missing in advance of the action.
The Europe foreshadowed in the Mulder report is a united Europe. It is a Europe able to generate competitiveness and employment. It is also a Europe to be relied on by its partners in the wider world, and a Europe better able to manage its common policies. Interinstitutional cooperation is one of the prerequisites to such a Europe. Unfortunately it cannot currently be guaranteed. Paragraphs 2, 3 and 5 of this very report state that enlargement financial perspectives are to be approved jointly by the Council and the European Parliament. This does not seem to be the case at present.
Parliament must have a considerable say regarding the financing of internal and external policy, if Europe is to prove a reliable partner, and if we are to become competitive and create employment. Global amounts for the adjustment of financial perspectives must not be set unilaterally. Parliament must be entitled to identify the shortfall in these areas and negotiate adequate sums.
The Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats is prepared to negotiate with the Council and the Commission concerning these areas. They are key to the achievement of the objectives identified by Mr Mulder. In the present climate of disunity and dissent, the Union’s institutions are called on to illustrate dialogue and cooperation, not to contribute to the unrest."@en1
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