Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-07-02-Speech-3-035"
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"en.20030702.1.3-035"2
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"Mr President, allow me to say to you, Mr President-in-Office of the Council, that we have confidence in Italy’s Presidency. We know that you will be able to combine political will and the spirit of conciliation in order to take European integration one stage further.
In international affairs, transatlantic relations are obviously fundamental. The European Union’s discussions with the United States, along the lines of those held recently in Washington, must become more regular. Issues such as environmental protection that are the subjects of conflict between the two sides of the Atlantic, should be approached on a more pragmatic basis.
We share the opinion of the Italian Presidency on the need for a short IGC, examining, if possible as it stands, the draft constitution of the European Convention and, above all, not re-opening the Pandora’s box of national requests. We are on the verge of adopting a common constitution drawn up in the full light of day. May we succeed in seizing this unique opportunity, and let us get ready for the new constitutional Treaty of Rome.
Parallel to the enlargement of the EU, people need to feel safe within the borders of an EU alert to the external threats represented by illegal immigration, organised crime and terrorism. From now on, we need to show the determination required to achieve the desires of the Thessaloniki Council.
At an economic level, the Italian Presidency’s plan to give new impetus to the trans-European network of road, rail and sea transport, as well as to the research and development project, is a necessity. As the French Prime Minister, Mr Raffarin, pointed out, the pact that links Europeans to one another is called the Stability and Growth Pact. We are therefore in favour of the European Union taking initiatives in the area of growth.
As representative of the overseas regions, I would emphasise the importance, in terms of the EU’s social cohesion, of doing everything possible to open up the regions far from the centre of Europe. European solidarity depends on such efforts.
We can only encourage the new Presidency, in the run-up to the Euro-Mediterranean Conference in Naples on 2 and 3 December 2003, to develop its relations, particularly in the field of trade, agriculture, infrastructures and migration, in order to ensure that the Barcelona process does not run out of steam.
Finally, we would keenly encourage any European or national policy designed to promote linguistic diversity. A Europe rich in 20 languages and as many cultures must not be reduced to a Europe of just one language. That requires effort on the part of everyone, however, and we await practical initiatives in this area from the new Presidency."@en1
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