Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-09-02-Speech-2-057"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2003-09-02"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Air service agreements between Member States and third countries2
dcterms:Language	"fi"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20030902.2.2-057"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2003-09-02-Speech-2-0582
lpv:speaker	lp:Ari Vatanen2
lpv:spokenAs	member; Delegation to the EU-Hungary Joint Parliamentary Committee (2002-02-07--2004-04-30)3 member; Delegation to the EU-Kazakhstan, EU-Kyrgyzstan and EU-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committees and Delegation for relations with Tadjikistan, Turkmenistan and Mongolia (2002-03-07--2004-07-19)3 unknown; Kansallinen Kokoomus (Finland) (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 substitute; AGRI (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 member; Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 member; EPP-ED (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, this is the second time now that I have spoken in an hour a rare thing! Now I can slow down some time in the autumn. I am glad that at last we are to have a common EU policy on air transport, because the current situation is absolutely idiotic and therefore needs a complete overhaul. Last year’s ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Communities was very positive news. Before that the United States of America had a real stranglehold on the Member States, owing to bilateral agreements. The open skies agreements have prevented mergers between our airlines because no flights have been allowed to the United States from any country other than one in which the European airline is registered. The impossibility of mergers has kept our air services market fragmented, which in turn has nibbled away at our airlines’ competitiveness and led to high prices. Once again the interests of consumers have been eclipsed by the benefits achieved. Instead of the narrow, national approach, we should realise that national airlines are not an end in themselves but inexpensive and efficiently organised flights are, because the customer, the European, is always right. That is why we should greet civilised globalisation with open arms in this sector too and harness it for the benefit of our citizens. The Commission’s proposals regarding air service agreements are therefore entirely appropriate. I also wish to thank the rapporteur, Mr Schmitt, for his thorough and pragmatic approach. When autumn comes the birds fly to the south. If we allow airline competition to increase, less well-off Europeans will also be able to fly down with them."@en1

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