Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2007-10-10-Speech-3-025"
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"en.20071010.16.3-025"2
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".
Mr President, President-in-Office of the Council, Vice-President of the Commission, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, I would like to thank Mrs Wallström and Mr Lobo Antunes for their speeches.
The period of reflection and debate to decide the future governance of the EU of 27 is coming to an end. Have we gained in maturity? Are we ready to switch from discussion to action? In June, Mrs Merkel demonstrated a combination of courage, responsibility and political will. Far from skirting around divisive subjects, we managed to reduce our differences. The way was finally opened for the European Union to equip itself with the tools necessary to function more effectively.
Three months have gone by and the Portuguese Presidency has kept us on course. If the roadmap fixed in June is respected to the end, until the European Council in Lisbon, the Portuguese Presidency will be able to secure agreement on the reform of our treaties. Here I salute the determination of the Portuguese Presidency during the work of the Intergovernmental Conference. For the European Parliament, and in the opinion of our fellow members Messrs Brok, Barón Crespo and Duff, whom I would like to thank most warmly, the assessment of the IGC is in line with expectations and the agenda set by the heads of state and government has, generally speaking, been respected.
Ladies and gentlemen, though we are prepared to make do with a balanced compromise, let us not forget that it is by default. Personally, I think it is more worthwhile to highlight the reasons why we support the draft Treaty. Firstly, we believe that only a united, strong and effective Europe can influence the affairs of a world which is moving so fast, changing, and becoming complex and unstable. If we support the draft Treaty, it is also because an effective EU of 27 cannot build on the rules of the Treaty of Nice. Furthermore, faced with the misgivings expressed by European citizens, we have demanded greater democracy and transparency.
We are in favour of a clear division of competences, in favour of increased participation by our fellow citizens in the process of building the EU and in favour of an active role and strong contribution by the national parliaments. Treaty reform is the correct response to citizens’ expectations. The revised Treaty is a means, not an end in itself. The form it takes and its name are unimportant. What counts is its substance and the progress it enshrines for European citizens.
We, the members of the PPE-DE Group, do not want a European superstate. We only want effectiveness, democracy, transparency and respect for the principle of subsidiarity. We are demanding effective European institutions capable of making decisions, and as long as national opt-outs are a frequent reality, it is up to us to limit their negative effects to prevent Europe from being paralysed. Any attempts to block the EU’s decision-making process should be ruled out. Citizens expect Europe to act where it can make a difference: on climate, energy, immigration, innovation, terrorism. My hope and wish is that this Treaty will enable us to do that, and we will support it."@en1
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