Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2010-07-07-Speech-3-021"
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"en.20100707.6.3-021"2
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Mr President, Mr Leterme, you have presented an ambitious programme to us. I will begin where Mr Daul left off. All the items in the ambitious programme that you have described convey a clearly visible and tangible message. Belgium is a country which combines its Presidency with a commitment to an in-depth pro-European approach and this is the reason why this Presidency represents a significant opportunity for all of us.
I very much liked your speech and I hope that the same goes for the other Members in my group.
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Therefore, I would first of all like to thank you, on behalf of my group, for ensuring that the Belgian Presidency, in the preparatory period and during the few days that it has been in office, has demonstrated that a government which is in power is very much able to lead the European Union provided that it commits to the basic European values. This is a positive and encouraging start to this Presidency.
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Europe is in a state of social imbalance. The biggest problem facing all of us is the deep social divide within the Union. We are talking – and rightly so – about the financial and economic crisis of recent years. We are discussing the necessary measures which must now be taken in order to gain better control over the deregulated banking sector and, in particular, the deregulated speculation sector. Therefore, one of the decisive measures which must now be implemented is the package of regulations that we will be adopting tomorrow.
The banking supervisory package must be put in place during your Presidency. In the final vote on the first reading of this package, there will be a broad majority in favour in the European Parliament, which will give the Council the chance to come back to Parliament with a constructive proposal by the September part-session. This is your responsibility but it is also your big opportunity to help ensure that the social imbalance in Europe is reduced by introducing more regulations. The burdens and costs of this crisis must not be borne solely by the workers. The banking sector must be called to account.
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This is why regulation of the financial markets and economic governance are urgently needed in Europe. However, the Community method also applies in this case. I want to make it quite plain to the Council and to the President-in-Office of the Council that we have enough institutions in Europe. We do not need any more. What we need is for the institutions that we already have to take action at last in the interests of Europe. One thing is clear. We cannot say that we in Europe are unable to implement a financial transaction tax, for example, because the USA and China are not taking part in it in the context of the G20. Exactly the opposite is the case. If the capitalist sector in Europe is subjected to increased regulation, the United States of America will have no choice but to join in, given the speculation on the dollar which is just beginning. Therefore, we have the opportunity during your Presidency to make progress in this area in Europe and to set a good example to others.
One measure which you have mentioned, Mr Leterme, is very important to my group. The African strategy which the Belgian Presidency has outlined seems to be a key issue for the European Union’s international policy, but not only from the perspective of solidarity. Africa is a forgotten continent and I very much support you and the Belgian Presidency when you say that Europe must focus more closely on it. However, we must also be aware that we are lagging behind, because other countries, primarily China, have already become involved in this continent. I will leave aside for the moment the question of whether the strategy which the People’s Republic of China is pursuing in Africa is one that we would regard as a fair partnership with the continent. As Europeans, our approach is quite different and is more accommodating towards the people of Africa. Therefore, we fully support the African strategy proposed by the Belgian Presidency.
Finally, Mr President, I would like to make one comment on enlargement. It is true that we are now in an important enlargement phase, but, Mr Leterme, I will leave you with one thought. You have mentioned Turkey and I am one of the people who is in favour of Turkey joining the European Union. Therefore, I would like to say that if the Council does not clarify at some point whether it really wants Turkey to join or not, if we continue to act in an ambiguous way, saying time and time again that Turkey has a chance of joining and should become part of the EU, while, at the same time, knowing that there are at least four or five Heads of Government who are opposed to this behind closed doors, this is the best way of destroying the good relationship between the EU and Turkey, rather than bringing Turkey into the EU. Therefore, your job is to introduce some clarity into this area."@en1
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