Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2007-05-22-Speech-2-407"
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"en.20070522.31.2-407"2
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"Mr President, forgive me if I – contrary to what appears to be the norm here – do not gush with emotion about this subject. First of all, I should like to apologise for the absence of our shadow rapporteur, Mrs Gottardi, from whom I will be taking over for now.
I have to say that I noted with great amusement how Mrs Lulling, like a latter-day Marianne, has led this battle, this insurgence against this proposal for a directive and this proposal to increase the minimum rates on beer and alcohol according to inflation. This is, indeed, as is evident, a subject which can boost one's popularity no end. Taxes are, of course, an unpopular topic, while beer and alcohol are very popular. Anyway, we, in our group, did not get carried away to that extent, because we, like Mrs Berès, feel responsible for the internal market and for fair competition.
The only negative comment I should like to make is that this directive, as it was drafted in the early 90s, is, of course, very poor legislation because it contains absolute figures. This is not a very good way of going about things, certainly if the topic requires unanimity of votes, because then it is virtually impossible to change those absolute figures at a later date.
This is why I am so impressed with the proposal, which Commissioner Kovács presented together with the Finnish Presidency, that automatic indexation be provided for. I think it was a very positive gesture not to start as high as in the original proposal, but to make a more modest start with a view to increasing at a later date.
This is why the Socialist Group in the European Parliament has tabled these proposals, which are currently being discussed in the Council, as amendments. I think it would be very wise and would bear witness to sound policy if a majority in Parliament were to vote in favour of them tomorrow."@en1
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