Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-09-15-Speech-3-157"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20040915.7.3-157"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:translated text |
".
Mr President, thank you very much, I shall try to be brief. I have another opportunity later on, in reaction to other comments on this subject, but it is a hugely important topic. First of all, I should like to say that Mr Leinen’s words are very much my own sentiments, especially when he points at the enormous importance, after the steps we have now taken and will be taking on 29 October when we will be signing the Treaty, of carrying on with the same fervour, because we are not there yet. Mr Leinen is absolutely right in saying this, and a very important next step is to be taken in connection with the ratification and the referendums which will be held in a number of countries.
I am also in total agreement with him that this responsibility is shared between Parliament, the Commission and the Council. To date, our three institutions have managed to achieve that, and we will indeed need to continue in the same manner at the next stage.
I am pleased that he himself indicated that there is, of course, a national responsibility where legislation, the implementation, the organisation of the ratification and also of possible referendums are concerned, and that this does not fall within the remit of Brussels. We will at any rate ensure, though, as we have also discussed, that information about this ratification process is collected. The Council’s Secretariat will be collating this information and compiling a rolling document, so that new information with regard to the planning and organisation of the ratifications and possible referendums can be processed in this document at any time.
This will be a permanent concern for us in the Council and will also be discussed during the European Council. I can tell you that we have also agreed that this will also be routinely on the agenda of the European Affairs Ministers who usually meet at least during each General Affairs Council for an informal lunch. It follows that from this position, we will be able to keep a finger on the pulse over the next few months.
The European Council has drawn attention to the problem in a wider sense than simply the ratification and the general involvement of the public, partly further to the low turnout at the most recent European Parliament elections. We the presidency, and particularly the European Affairs Ministers, will make sure that we can table concrete proposals that will be discussed at the European Council of 5 November. We will set to this task in Amsterdam on 5 October, and will discuss, as already stated, both communications in a more general sense and also specifically the best ways of taking account of the ratification procedures in the different Member States and of the harmonisation that is required for this purpose. That means, in any case, exchanging information and learning from each other’s experiences in this procedure. Where harmonisation in time is possible, that should be done, but once again, that is a national responsibility. We will also ensure, and this will probably be handled centrally, that all citizens can have access to a text of the Treaty. On this score too, scope will need to be provided, though, for all possible information-related campaigns and activities to be handled at national level. I think that the signal which the new Commission has sent out, also by appointing the first Vice-President with specific responsibility for communication, is an important step, and further attention is also being paid from those quarters to communication. Perhaps I can finish off with Mr Leinen’s remark about the anxiety level, which may be rising here and there nationally with regard to public opinion. It is precisely that too that makes it so important for national governments to be able to choose the right way and have enough scope to give their own interpretation to the entire ratification process and possible referendums. Rest assured that we in the presidency, and in the Council, are very aware of our responsibilities and will make every effort to ensure that this whole procedure will have a successful outcome."@en1
|
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples