Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-07-22-Speech-4-043"
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"en.20040722.1.4-043"2
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"Madam President, Mr President-designate of the Commission, it was a joy to listen to your inaugural speech: we could hardly have found a more expert and competent candidate. Mrs De Keyser observed that you are a skilful exploiter of situations. That is just the sort of President of the Commission we need: someone who can take advantage of any situation and exploit windows of opportunity when they are open. We need an independent, autonomous and dynamic President of the Commission. I believe that you are just that person. I am pleased that you come from a small Member State. I would like to reassure my fellow Members that in Mr Barroso we will have a strong President of the Commission, someone who will also be capable of listening to Parliament. There has already been evidence of that, during last week’s hearings, when you assured us that you would be a President for all Europeans.
It is important that the result of the European elections is reflected in the choice of President of the Commission, just as we in the Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats have called for. Ours are not just empty words: we talk openly about our aims, and we realise them, as we have now also done in this case. I am convinced that the Council’s unanimously chosen candidate has excellent potential for playing a strong role as President of the Commission. The independently-made choices of Commissioners are a good start in that respect. I also believe that during your term of office you will develop transatlantic relations further, which are so important for us Europeans.
Another of Europe’s major challenges is the speedy ratification of the Constitutional Treaty in the Member States. This must be the joint top priority for all of us Europeans who love Europe and our own countries. We must increase our competitiveness, in order to increase employment and improve the economic situation. Without that, we cannot ensure a prosperous and secure Europe for all its citizens. A viable and effective Internal Market plays a key part in this. Since 1993, thanks to the liberalisation of the Internal Market, we have created more than 2.5 million jobs and more than EUR 800 billion in extra reserves for the people of Europe. There is no alternative to the liberalisation of the Internal Market. For example, the Financial Services Action Plan has created a European financial internal market, which will boost the efficiency of the market and create more growth.
There has been much talk about a citizens’ Europe, and that is certainly something worth aspiring to. How might we achieve that? The credibility of Europe depends on how its citizens feel about the activities of the Union. Let us make decisions at European level only in those matters where decisions at European level have clear added value for European citizens. Our citizens now appreciate the single European currency and the notion of freedom of movement, both of which provide justification for the whole Union.
In future, we could even operate on a principle of less regulation and more effort in the implementation and monitoring of action. The Commission, which controls this implementation, can of course help the Member States in distinguishing the wood from the trees. The Commission needs to use its increased personnel resources to improve the implementation process and bring the recalcitrant Member States into line. We have faith in you, President of the Commission."@en1
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