Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-01-14-Speech-3-015"
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"en.20040114.1.3-015"2
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"Mr President, that last contribution is a sad reminder that the doctrine of bigotry is alive and well in certain parts of this Union. We still have a lot of work to do in that area.
If you are sincere in what you are saying in advocating for the rest of Europe a knowledge-based economy, perhaps you could start by ensuring that our Irish universities and third-level institutions are adequately funded to allow access to the greatest possible number of young people.
I should like to ask you to put the ratification of Kyoto, which is essential for progress and for all our futures, way up there at the top of the agenda at the EU-Russia summit.
Finally, given the well-publicised claim by members of your government that Ireland is closer to Boston than Berlin – a claim from which I dissociate myself – could you at least turn that now to an advantage with your plans to re-establish close transatlantic links given the rift that has ensued following the invasion of Iraq?
Again, Taoiseach, I welcome you here this morning and you have my sincere good wishes for a very successful term at the helm of Europe.
Taoiseach, Minister Roche, Ambassador Anderson, I join colleagues in welcoming you here this morning, particularly on behalf of my Irish colleagues in the PPE-DE Group. Our presence here, as well as yours, Mr President, in the chair of this august assembly, sends a huge signal to all small Member States that the systems and the processes in Europe allow the smallest of nations to come to the top in the right circumstances. I am extremely proud of your presence in the chair and of the Taoiseach's presence here as President of the Council of the European Union for the coming six months. I thank you for the honour you bring to our country in that regard.
Taoiseach, there are those who contend that the only truly important issue to be tackled under the sixth Irish presidency of the European Union is that of the completion of the IGC, the issue of the Constitution. Over the past few weeks you have been playing down your chances of delivering on this, certainly on the domestic scene. However, having listened to you here this morning, I feel that this might have been merely a political stratagem, dampening down expectations perhaps, and from what you have said – I hope I am right in my interpretation – this is right up there at the top of your agenda and you have all our support in that regard.
Again we hear the Lisbon Strategy being trotted out: the mantra of Lisbon. Quite frankly, at this stage most businesses think that time is running out for Lisbon, if indeed it has not already run out. We need concrete action, not just repetitions of wish lists and words. What exactly are we going to do in relation to Lisbon? What are we going to do in relation to deregulation to allow businesses to flourish, to allow innovation? Facts please, Taoiseach, specifics please, no more wish lists, because this is the eighth time I have sat here listening to this at the start of a presidency and I find it very hard at the end of every presidency to see what difference has actually been made in relation to the Lisbon Strategy. Please tell us before you go today exactly what you intend to do to make the Lisbon goals a reality during your watch.
Of particular note is the fact that the growth of the US economy, which has outperformed Europe's economy since Lisbon – the gap has grown, not lessened – is driven by its superior research and development. In fact, the gap in wealth is stretching every year. It is time we acted. The Irish presidency must concentrate on a sound framework for European research and innovation. I ask you particularly to look at the seventh EU framework programme and to deliver as best you can.
I would like to acknowledge the historic period of enlargement which will happen under your watch and welcome into the Community our ten new Member States with their considerable scientific enterprise and research skills, which must be harnessed and developed to full capacity.
We must place emphasis on overall economic growth, but our priority must be to promote employment, more and better jobs in our European Union. In the interests of equity, productivity and social stability, we must address the serious issue of Europe's greying population and so we must create the optimum conditions for jobs.
Two-thirds of Europe's workforce are currently employed in enterprises employing less than 250 people. As such, these SMEs are the driving force of European job creation. We must focus on simplifying and establishing a supportive regulatory-environment framework which encourages entrepreneurship and reduces this bureaucracy and red tape."@en1
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