Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2007-05-22-Speech-2-428"
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"en.20070522.32.2-428"2
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"Mr President, I too would like to begin by thanking Mr Mauro for his constructive cooperation. Overall, I would like to say that we have had constructive cooperation between the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Transport and Tourism in this instance. It is high time that we obtained this legislation. Like Mr Jarzembowski, I too would like to point out that agreement was reached as long ago as November and things could not go fast enough at that point. Since then, however, the ministers have had an incredible amount of time – much too much, in fact – and we only got formal adoption in the Council in March. By now, the Commission should be in full swing in terms of producing work programmes and inviting project applications from the Member States.
It seems to me that the whole process that we have gone through with this legislation gives the impression that the Member States are a little half-hearted in their attitude towards these very important transport investments. This is also evident from the Council’s heavy-handed cuts in the budgetary framework, with resources for the trans-European networks being cut back from EUR 20 million to EUR 8 million. I am convinced that more resources will be needed and that, when the mid-term review comes around in 2009, we shall have to provide more money not only for the Galileo satellite system but also for the trans-European networks.
I would also like to say how pleased I am that we managed to include new financial instruments in the regulation – as in the case of the Fehmarn Belt bridge, which is being funded by loans and is to be paid for by its users. Commissioner Barrot, you have held out in this House the prospect of underwriting the bridge’s finances for the first five years. It therefore seems to me a positive thing that the European Investment Bank is also involved in developing new financial instruments. There is a need for better cross-border corridors in Europe, and since the necessary resources are not to be found in government budgets it is important that we find new ways to fund such projects.
The comitology procedure was a point of contention between Parliament and the Council. The majority in Parliament gave way, and I would like to thank Commissioner Barrot for his promise to involve Parliament in drawing up the work programme. I look forward to us achieving a result soon so that we can release this year’s budget – which has been placed in reserve – and so that work can get under way."@en1
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