Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-09-15-Speech-3-148"
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"en.20040915.6.3-148"2
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"Mr President, it is imperative for me in this debate to set out clearly the issues at stake, and to highlight what is necessary and realistic.
We start from a most regrettable situation. Non-compliance with the Pact on the part of a growing number of Member States is clearly a serious breach of good budgetary behaviour. I am not unaware of the effects of the economic situation, yet I have noticed that the Member States that have had the courage to avoid slipping into extravagant spending show indicators that are perfectly in line with the legislative provisions. The good behaviour of some is unfortunately suffering from the backsliding of others.
Having said that, let us not fall into the traps either of blind devotion or of dogmatism. The future ex-President of the Commission, moreover, did not hide his feelings on the Pact, using extremely undiplomatic language. I find the guidelines set out by the Commission interesting because they could lead to a less simplistic understanding of Member States’ public finances. Therein, however, lie further difficulties: how can we reconcile an understanding of the complex and unique situations of each Member State with maintaining rules that are clear, understandable and applicable across the board? I wish all the best to those who will have to undertake the task, including my compatriot, the future President of the Council and the future ‘Mr Euro’, who is well known for unravelling the most complex problems.
Lastly, the crisis that we are enduring is highly symptomatic of the way in which the EU operates. Nobody would deny that the EU is a community governed by the rule of law, yet it is clear that the power to exert force over the Member States quickly comes up against its limits. Overall, the dilemma is a tough one: rather than witness the slow death of the Stability and Growth Pact, I would prefer to see its regeneration, given that its demise would also have incalculable repercussions for the euro and that I still set some store by the value of the currency and of the money in my wallet."@en1
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