Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-06-14-Speech-3-179"
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"en.20060614.16.3-179"2
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"This Parliament’s procedures leave us in a position of weakness. We are, after all, trying to influence the document that will go to the European Council this week, but in practice I assume that has already been written, finalised, translated into 20 different languages and our impact in this Chamber is likely to be somewhat limited. Perhaps that is something to consider in future.
However, I wish to congratulate the Austrian Presidency, because it has at least made this a priority; it has tried to pull together the threads and it has looked at ways to take this agenda forward, which is welcome.
To me the big issue, though, is implementation. Take one example: national sustainable development strategies have to be prepared in all cases by next June. But what if they are not? What tools, what mechanisms, do we have to ensure that Member States actually deliver on the pledges the prime ministers will agree this Friday?
We need more indicators. There is a good suggested list here in Austria’s draft paper, but it is simply not comprehensive enough. We need specific performance tables; we need the opportunity to name and shame, to point the finger at those Member States that pay lip service to the idea of sustainable development, but do not match their fine words with deeds.
What we really need is for the Commission, as the independent arbiter, to be able to find mechanisms to put pressure on Member States which are so reluctant to rock the boat within the Council and to point the finger at one another. Five years ago, when the Natura 2000 programme was being prepared, Commissioner Wallström, the then Environment Commissioner, used the fact that structural funds could be withheld unless the Habitats Directive was properly complied with as a means of encouraging the process. That threat of withholding money from Member States brought about a dramatic transformation in performance and the submission of new ideas. I hope that over the next few months and years the Commission will come up with mechanisms of that kind to really put pressure on Member States where it hurts."@en1
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