Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-01-18-Speech-3-068"
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"en.20060118.2.3-068"2
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"Mr President, Mr Schüssel, ladies and gentlemen, Mr Schüssel has already answered questions concerning the programme of the Austrian Presidency. To conclude, let me simply sum up by giving you a broad outline of how I see this Presidency evolving.
There will be two key moments: the Spring European Council and the June European Council. The first is designed to implement the new system of governance and the new growth and employment strategy, and the second to take decisions on our measures concerning Europe’s future.
First, a very important issue needs to be settled with the European Parliament: the question of the 2007-2013 financial perspective. You are well aware of the Commission’s position on this matter. You know how hard the Commission has worked to reach an agreement that is as ambitious as possible. We believe, in fact, that it was important to obtain an agreement among the Member States. Imagine what the state of mind would be in Europe today if we did not at least have the agreement that it was possible to reach in the European Council.
That being said, there is still room for manoeuvre where the negotiations are concerned. My appeal and that of the entire Commission is a very sincere appeal for realism in these negotiations. We believe, in fact, that any further delays could really jeopardise the application of the new financial perspective starting from 1 January 2007. If that were to happen, then those who would suffer the most would be precisely the new Member States or the regions of Europe that require more solidarity. We therefore believe that there is still room for negotiation, but we need to embark on these negotiations with ambition and realism and with a great sense of responsibility. If we succeed in resolving this problem, then we will be best placed to ensure that the Spring European Council is a great success.
This is the first time that we are applying the new Lisbon system of governance. The Member States have all already submitted their national reform programmes. We are going to present our assessment on 25 January, and I will come to this Chamber to present it to you. I believe that we now have the conditions necessary to give Europe a boost in the areas of growth and employment. We must be clear on this subject, however: we have priorities. Mr Schüssel highlighted some of these priorities, including research, small and medium-sized enterprises and energy, all cases in which the Hampton Court Agenda usefully supplements the Lisbon Agenda. Yet, if we really want growth in Europe, then we genuinely need to have a single market in Europe. The great task now – that of the Commission’s and Parliament’s mandate – is to ensure that the single market works in an enlarged Europe.
There are 25 of us now, and we need to remember that fundamental freedoms exist that were at the heart of the European Community project: the free movement of goods, undoubtedly, but also the free movement of capital, services and persons, including workers. While we genuinely want Europe, we know that it has to be far more than a market: Europe is a political project and a social project. For Europe to be both of these, we must guarantee fundamental freedoms throughout its territory, by taking care not to create any divisions between the old and the new Member States. We are all now members of this European Union, which is based on the idea of solidarity.
Finally, the June European Council must take a decision regarding Europe’s future. While we are on that subject, I believe that Mr Duff’s question is very important. It is true that there are some appreciable differences, and we are of the opinion that we need to tackle this debate carefully, with an awareness of our responsibilities. On that basis, we believe that it is possible, with the June European Council in mind, to finalise the broad lines of the agenda on Europe’s future, to reach a new consensus with a view to progressing our European project and to find the best opportunity for resolving the institutional issues that do, in fact, need resolving."@en1
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