Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-07-21-Speech-3-125"
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"en.20040721.6.3-125"2
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"Madam President, may I first of all say what a pleasure it is to see you sitting on the platform opposite me and congratulate you on your election.
Mr Barroso, I listened carefully to what you had to say and I appreciate your vision of Europe and of the part to be played by the Commission, a Commission that must be strong and needs some younger blood. I think you will be able to give a new image to this institution, which is not always well perceived by our fellow citizens; they want to be kept informed about the Community’s work and have the prospects and challenges we face clearly explained.
The next five years will be full of challenges. I will mention only four: the approval of the Constitution, the financial guidelines, employment policy and the legitimate questions that arise concerning the accession of Turkey.
An unwavering commitment to the draft Constitution would be of great assistance to the Member States and their representatives who will have the enormous responsibility of presenting the draft to their fellow citizens with a view to getting their support for the text of the Constitution. A Europe that works is a Europe which may perhaps do less, but which does a lot better, it is a Europe that makes progress, a Europe that knows how to manage its budget and that spends effectively, providing itself with the resources it needs for its policies. There would be no point in proposing guidelines without first thinking of the cost, nor in freezing essential items of expenditure. Without penalising the old Member States, the budget must allow us to support the ten new countries and help to create the conditions for growth. We are counting on you to preserve Europe’s regional policy.
At the same time, the European Commission will have to revitalise economic policy. Such economic revitalisation cannot be based on inflexible instruments that lock the States in accounting straightjackets or trap European firms in rules that prevent them from developing on the world market. Our policies must be capable of adapting to the requirements of current economic conditions. If the Union is to be successful in this, it must have the support of its peoples, who want it to be easier to understand what the Community does. Unfortunately, they have the impression that everything is decided without consulting them. Turkish accession is a case in point. They think it has all been decided in advance. I cannot believe that. There must be open debate; our fellow citizens want to be directly involved.
I would also like the new Commission to pay attention to youth, that dynamic and optimistic youth that is profoundly European. The young people of today will be the Europe of tomorrow. We are living today in a world where everything moves very quickly, where the new generations are impatient and where definite results must be visible in the short term.
Mr Barroso, I wish you success not only for tomorrow but especially for five years at the head of the Commission. Stand up to the Council; it is often the Council that brings Europe to a standstill. Put your trust in the European Parliament. Parliament will be your ally if you know how to navigate while respecting our fellow citizens’ wishes."@en1
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