Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-09-26-Speech-1-025"
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"en.20050926.11.1-025"2
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".
Mr President, on behalf of my Group, I would like to welcome President-in-Office Prescott, clearly keener to enjoy the company of former colleagues than to join his party's bean feast in Brighton.
But, where the Constitution is concerned, do not rush to perform the burial rites. To paraphrase Mark Twain, rumours of its death may be exaggerated. Let us use this period of reflection to call Chirac and Balkenende before this House to tell us how they propose to proceed; hold hearings with those who have not yet ratified; confront the Member States with their responsibilities. Together, let us show that our Union meets the needs of its people: enhancing security without threatening liberty; building the foundation for jobs without undermining solidarity; gaining EU added value without diminishing identity. If this is our agenda, some time from now our institutions and our institutional plans should once again command from our citizens the support and dedication they deserve.
I, too, welcome our new friends from Romania and Bulgaria. I am sorry that they join us at a less than happy time. Europe is in the doldrums: its Constitution has suffered a setback, its budget in stalemate, its economy stagnating. It seeks a fresh breeze to lift its sails.
Previously, Parliaments looked to the Commission to take the lead: as the guardian of the Treaties; as the motor of integration, the initiator of ideas. This Parliament must challenge the Member States. Is Germany ready to reform? Will Italy deal with its deficit? Will Tony Blair back up his fine words with full British participation in Europe's projects? And will Paris and The Hague show leadership of their people? Now more than ever, Parliament and Commission must work together to rescue the European project, to unite the Union.
Five years ago in Lisbon, the Member States agreed an agenda. Five months ago in Brussels, the Commission set out a new strategy for jobs and growth. How many weeks must we wait for consensus in the Council, and when we reach consensus, for the courage to carry it through?
We have read of a bonfire of regulations, doubtless long overdue. But permit me a word on process. Better enforcement of laws: that is for the Commission and the Court. Fewer, more focused new laws: that is for the Commission, too. But decisions to scrap directives and to improve scrappy directives are a process involving Parliament, and we expect a say in withdrawing or re-writing laws.
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Commissioner Wallström, our involvement is your accountability. Our approval is your legitimacy.
I fear you will not agree the budget under Britain's Presidency. But use your public tour of Europe, together with Mr Barroso, to get agreement in national capitals for the financing the Union needs. We need more champions like Airbus. We will not have those with a cap of 1%. We need to invest in upskilling; to provide for lifelong learning; to boost research and development – no way on 1%. Commissioner Wallström, do now the tour you should have done in June. Set the agenda or the Member States will set it for you.
Europe's Constitution bears fine signatures of presidents and prime ministers. Yet some of our citizens declined to sign it off. Arguably the recipe is not quite right. Possibly, people suspect it was signed in bad faith. Certainly its signatories show precious little respect for the institutions they have established. For the present, it is in cold storage. So, yes, Mr Barroso, let us get the politics right, and getting them right probably means getting them centre."@en1
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