Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-10-25-Speech-1-058"
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"en.20041025.13.1-058"2
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"A debate such as the one we are having today is very important as it affects millions of people throughout the whole continent. At times, I find it amusing that, in this House, we seem to make the mistake of thinking that the entire debate is exclusively for us economists or bankers. At times, we end up talking in such a complicated way that I honestly believe that there are people in this House, let alone those who voted for us and to whom we are responsible, who do not even know what we are talking about. As I said, the matters that we are discussing today and that are the subject of the Central Bank report affect the daily life of millions of people. Mr President, I come from a very small village, with a total of 800 inhabitants, in the smallest Member State of the European Union, namely Malta.
Nevertheless, what we are debating with such pompous words sometimes affects the lives of families as much as it affects multinationals, which have very powerful lobbyists here and in Brussels. These normal families, or ordinary people as they are referred to in English, pay taxes and abide by the law. It is to them that we owe our first allegiance in all the decisions we take. I believe that, in the future, the main task of new Member States of the European Union must be to put their economies on strong foundations. They must do this whilst being careful not to rip the social fabric which in many countries, including mine, has taken many years to weave.
It is in these terms that the issue of when to adopt the euro must be considered. In my opinion, it would be a mistake if any country, simply to satisfy its desire to introduce the single currency as soon as possible, were to introduce superficial but harsh measures affecting its middle and lower classes, measures that might perhaps result in satisfying the convergence criteria, whatever these might be, but at the expense of sacrificing the social achievements of recent years. Things should not be done in a hurry, but planned wisely. Our first priority should be our need to be more competitive both as individual countries and as a continent. The new Member States of the European Union and the European Union as a whole have a great deal to learn from the experience of those Member States that have already adopted the single currency. This was a positive experience for many countries.
Nevertheless, there were complaints about unwarranted price increases implemented as soon as the system changed over to the euro. These complaints, especially from those who, in our society, can least afford price increases, were justified in many cases. Last year, this Parliament asked the Central Bank to investigate those incorrect workings of the system that resulted in price increases. I believe that, to be consistent, we must request another such investigation, and I believe this is why, as the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, we are presenting an amendment to this effect. I urge my fellow MEPs from the other groups again to vote in favour of an investigation, thereby enabling us to be consistent. Finally, this is a very difficult time, but it is not a time for losing heart. It is a time when we need leadership and vision."@en1
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