Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-04-12-Speech-2-340"
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"en.20050412.32.2-340"2
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".
Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, although enlargement has obviously presented the European Union’s regional policy with huge challenges, we are doing our best to rise to them. At the same time, however, we should never lose sight of the fact that regional policy is the most publicly visible of all the EU’s policies, which means that it is our responsibility to press ahead with this policy in a sensible and sustainable manner.
A few moments ago Mr Galeote Quecedo referred to the costs this will involve. I would argue that the unavoidable costs of a round of enlargement of this kind must be shared in a reasonably fair manner. In order for this to happen, we need both to show solidarity with the regions, which no longer play as large a part in structural and cohesion policy as they have done in recent years, and to avoid making excessive demands of the EU Member States commonly known as net contributors. I need to be able to explain to my fellow countrymen why the money that Germany contributes to the EU is a good investment. At the same time as enlisting support at home, however, I also need to ensure that the EU appreciates that the situation is a great deal more complex than it may have been ten years ago.
In my opinion, therefore, the proposals issued by the Commission, relating to a correction mechanism under which the burden on net contributors would be eased somewhat, are extremely significant. I believe that more serious thought should be given in future to a reorganisation of the own resources system and to a move away from current costs and procedures, and this applies to the Council of Ministers as well.
I also believe that consideration should be given to the use of cofinancing for agriculture measures, in order to ensure that changes are made to procedures in this field as well. The first steps have in fact been taken in this direction in the Financial Perspective and in the Böge report. At the same time, however, I would note that it is the responsibility of this House to manage money as efficiently as possible, and to pay close attention to what this money is spent on. The n+2 rule will play a key role in this respect, in particular in terms of accountability to net contributors and the responsible use of taxpayers’ money.
I hope that today’s debate will help us to negotiate the Financial Perspective and formulate regional policy, and that we will stand together in showing solidarity to one another."@en1
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