Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-09-24-Speech-3-036"
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"en.20030924.1.3-036"2
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"Mr President, I should like to congratulate my colleagues Mr Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado and Mr Tsatsos for the report they have presented to us today.
The draft Treaty presented to our EU leaders in Thessaloniki forms the basis for discussions on a final agreed text at European Union level. The vast majority of people agree that the European Union must change the procedures it uses if it is to become a more effective political body in a Community of 25 Member States.
The discussions that will take place on 4 October will be the next phase of these important negotiations. The model for decision-making within the Union dates back, in part, to when the European Economic Community was a six-Member organisation in the late 1950s. This is an inadequate structure in a Community of over 25 Member States.
I believe in the principle of equality between small and large Member States. In particular I believe that representation within the European Commission should be based on a system of strict equality between small and large states. I support the continuation of each Member State of the Union having the right to appoint a nominee as a full voting member of the European Commission.
It is important also that the precise role of the European Union President / President of the European Council is clearly specified in the new Treaty. Equally I welcome the fact that the new Treaty will define the powers between the European Commission itself and the individual Member States of the Union.
I have some reservations in the context of the negotiations in the IGC. The issue of taxation must remain the preserve and remit of the individual Member States' governments. I do not believe that support from the citizens of the Union for the EU extends to the area of deciding taxation levels in Europe. Ever since the European Convention was set up, however, extensive negotiations and discussions have taken place across all elements of European Union society. Over the coming months we must approach these negotiations with firm determination so that an agreement can be secured on a text for the final Treaty, which hopefully would govern the operation of the Union for the next 50 years."@en1
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