Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-11-18-Speech-4-025"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20041118.4.4-025"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:translated text |
"Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the biggest majority at the European elections last June was won by the abstainers. European citizens would all agree that they sent a clear message in every direction. They do not feel that Europe expresses their views, concerns them or protects them on a daily basis. In particular young people, women and socially excluded groups of citizens in general ascribe the disdain which they experience on a daily basis to the policy of the European Union.
Nonetheless, compared with this more general trend, we see that European citizens' confidence in the institution of the European Ombudsman has risen astronomically. As the statistics show, complaints by European citizens this year alone are expected to increase by 40%. If we interpret these statistics, apart from confirming that the institution was worthily represented both by Mr Söderman and by my compatriot, Mr Diamandouros, we find that European citizens are rewarding an institution which satisfies the obvious for them, by which I mean access to the institutions of the European Union. However, what is needed in order for the institutions to function better and be considered worthy, apart from the personalities which represent them, is for them to be strengthened.
We often speak of the democratic deficit, of the lack of transparency or political will in a way which automatically forces my generation to classify them using political
. So let us therefore simply stop stating the problems and let us look for feasible solutions, solutions in deed, not in word, while at the same time supporting the institutions.
It is, of course, a fact that the new Constitution safeguards the institution of the Ombudsman and promotes, perhaps not perfectly, but certainly better than today, transparency and democratic participation in the Union. If we support both, perhaps at the next elections we shall be surprised, this time pleasantly. Perhaps we shall start to regain the confidence of the citizens and convince them to participate more in the common ventures of Europe.
Europe is changing. That was the slogan of the last European elections. Personally, I am convinced. However, it is up to all of us to change in a positive direction."@en1
|
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
"clichés"1
|
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples