Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2010-07-07-Speech-3-029"
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"en.20100707.6.3-029"2
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"Mr President, what we have just heard is somewhat reminiscent of the orchestra on the Titanic. The Presidency of the European Union is now being held by a country that is not even capable of governing itself. Never before has the rotating Presidency had to contend with an outgoing government from the outset, and indeed, it is far from certain that Belgium will obtain a new federal government within the six months of this Presidency. Following the previous elections, in 2007, it took nine months for a government to be formed. This is because the artificial Belgian model is ungovernable. Flanders and Wallonia have become two different countries, with two totally different political, social, economic and cultural realities. Forming a government for Belgium is a bit like Germany and Greece having to draw up a common budget. None other than European Commissioner Karel De Gucht recently called Belgian governmental operations a permanent diplomatic conference.
Besides, what is the democratic legitimacy of a Belgian Government that represents less than one in three voters in Flanders? If Mr Leterme is to be believed, things will turn out all right. The Belgian Government means to attempt to hide its lack of resolve and of democratic legitimacy behind a smoke screen of ultra-federalist rhetoric, then. Yet the uncomfortable reality is that Belgium is lagging far behind the European pack in terms of the transposition of European legislation. The same goes for the several ongoing infringement procedures. Added to that is the Belgian public debt of more than 100%, and an immigration and asylum policy that has become so out of hand that we really should be calling it an open-border policy. Then there is the sky-high tax burden and the very low employment rate, not to mention the democratic deficit that means that the Flemings, who make up the majority of the population, are regarded as a minority.
Besides, how can Mr Leterme be sure that he enjoys broad support among the population for his European programme if no referendum has ever been held, for example, on Turkey’s possible accession to the European Union? No referendum may be held on this, Mr Leterme, and so this Belgian Presidency would be well advised to adopt a low profile. Member States must beware of a failed state that is attempting to export its problems to Europe and is seeking to make Europe a larger version of Belgium. In any case, the European Union would do well to prepare for the disintegration of Belgium and the creation of two new states, two potential new Member States of the European Union: Flanders and Wallonia."@en1
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