Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-06-22-Speech-3-074"
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"en.20050622.13.3-074"2
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"Mr President, while we, along with everyone else, regret that no financial agreement has been reached, I think that we should also consider the positive aspects. After all, a large majority of this House has spoken out in favour of cutting back where possible but also investing where necessary, which was also the thrust of the Böge report. In the Council too, the differences have become more negligible than many people had thought possible. I appreciate the presidency’s efforts in this respect and also what Mr Juncker said, namely that he tried to reach out to the Netherlands even further.
I am not saying this for selfish reasons, but only to indicate that a country such as the Netherlands does not mind paying up. If, however, newspapers carry reminders, year in and year out, that the Dutch contribute many times more than other rich countries, then the Netherlands, having been a pro-European country, will eventually end up being sceptical. The Netherlands will soon need to get back on track in a referendum, and we must all find our bearings again.
We must also learn from those referenda. There were many reasons for the no-vote. Something that definitely played a role is a certain fear among people of how fast enlargements are carried out and of where they will stop. We must explain in more specific terms that enlargements are not detrimental to us, but beneficial and what they have brought us. We must also ensure that the enlargement processes that are currently underway remain credible. That means that not only the position of candidate Member States must be taken seriously, but also the criteria we prescribed in respect of enlargements, and that guarantees must be put in place to this effect. We all carry some of the responsibility in this, not least with regard to the criterion that Europe must be able to handle the enlargements.
We have not had an easy time of it, and if anyone was able to cope, it was this President of the Council, Mr Juncker, and his team. It is impressive how he, time and again, underlined the idea that Europe is about cooperation, is more than just a free trade area, not only in his work and during negotiations, but also here today when he reminded us about the end of the Second World War sixty years ago with all the empathy one would expect.
I told Mr Juncker a moment ago that he is a leader of a small country but a big leader in Europe, and I am convinced that, if we carry on as he has begun, we will soon harvest what the Luxembourg Presidency has sowed during this difficult time. I thank you, I thank the Presidency, and let us continue the good work."@en1
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