Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2011-09-28-Speech-3-076-000"
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"en.20110928.3.3-076-000"2
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"Mr President, first of all, let me start by thanking this House for the strong support given to my statement on behalf of the European Commission. I think it is very important for all of us in the European Commission to feel that support coming from the most important political forces in Europe and for you, who have been directly elected by our European citizens.
Let us be completely clear. The problems we have in Europe today did not arise because of the European institutions. The problems we have in Europe today arise because of narrow national interests that have prevented the European project from moving forward. So I say to those of you that criticise me, or the Commission, that we are ready to accept all your criticisms, but the Commission is proud of the work it has achieved. Today we have not only made a speech, but we have put forward a programme with proposals.
Everything I said last year in the European Sate of the Union I checked; we have delivered. Every proposal I made today to you, we will deliver and we need your support and not your doubts and your scepticism. That is very important today because we need to build this stronger support for a stronger Europe in a spirit of confidence. Today you are going to vote on the ‘six pack’; some of you do not agree but the proposals were made by the European Commission one year ago.
We have tabled 29 proposals for the Financial Regulation. Some of the points you have made are already on the table for the Council. About capital of banks we have put forward a capital requirements directive. Some of you do not agree but it is there, our proposal. About tax evasion we have asked the Council, and so far we have not yet received a mandate to negotiate with third countries the issues of taxation because what is happening so far is that countries are negotiating alone.
We have put forward the tax savings directive. Regarding the
the public services, I have committed to present it before the end of the year and we will do it. We are going to respect all our commitments and today I also put forward before you the financial transaction tax. So there is no lack of proposals. The question today is to get the support, not only of Parliament but also of our Member States. So when we speak about Europe we have to be clear about what we mean by Europe.
Because this is one of the problems in terms of the scepticism in Europe. Some people say Europe does not deliver. Let us put it frankly: is it Europe that does not deliver or some governments that do not deliver? This is the real question in terms of the European Union.
As I said, one of the problems is political and political confidence and we need to make the case for Europe. Today when some governments say: ‘we do not have enough support for the euro; we do not have some support for the European Union’, probably they are right. But we have to ask them: did you make the case for Europe? Did you make the case for the euro? Did you explain to your citizens what we have to lose if we do not keep our strong commitment to our common achievements? So we need to make the case for Europe. And this is a collective task from the European Commission, of course, from Parliament – and you have been elected and you can of course discuss this matter and I know you are doing it with your electors but also from our governments.
We need to make the case for a stronger Europe, that is why I have highlighted the importance of the political leadership, the political responsibility, and I believe that we can unite ourselves in terms of the points I have made.
The reality is, honourable Members, we have different sensibilities around Europe. We have those who like to highlight stability; others prefer to speak about growth. Those who prefer to insist on responsibility and discipline, others want to insist on solidarity and cohesion. We need all these ideas. We need to put together this vision of a common Europe and the points I have made today to you – and once again I want to thank you for all your support – are not only the points of a speech: they are the points of a commitment programme, and so let us work together to make it happen.
Let us work together to make Europe stronger, let us work together in a true community spirit with the respect for Community matters to deliver for our citizens a stronger, united and open Europe. I believe this is what we need in Europe and what the world needs from us.
Of course I was not expecting unanimity. One Member of Parliament, a British nationalist, attacked me on the fact that I am not elected. I want to tell you that since the age of 29 I have always been elected by my own Parliament. I was Prime Minister of my country, I was leader of the opposition of my country and I am here, as President of the Commission, because this Parliament voted for me to be President of the European Commission.
If you do not respect the institution to which you belong yourself, this is not my problem. Regarding Britain, I would like to make this point to you. As far as I know, you have tried several times to be elected to your own British Parliament. How wise the British people are that they have never elected you to your own Parliament and sent you here.
If you want your country to leave the European Union, say it in London and try to get your country to agree. But do not say it here because, as far as we know, your institutions and your country want to remain in the European Union. If your country does not want to be in the European Union, do not speak on behalf of the others, do not speak on behalf of Poland, that just today set their commitment to the Community approach and to a stronger and ever-closer European Union. If Britain believes that it can, because of its past empire, or because of its dimension, defend its interests in the world alone, try to get that point across in your country. But I think the majority here believes, as was said, that to protect our interests, to defend our values in the world of globalisation, to speak with one voice with our American friends or China and Russia, we need a stronger European Union. This stronger European Union is also a way to reinforce our countries, the countries that we all represent around this House.
This point is very important. This is a point of substance, apart from the other funnier parts. How we build a European Union is a point of substance. Are we going to build a European Union against each other or with each other? That is why I welcome this message of support, not only from the most important political forces here and the consensus expressed, but also from the current Presidency of the Council, Poland. We need a Community that matters: a Community spirit and a Community approach to reinforce our common interests. We need to build a European Union with our Member States, but we also need to build a European Union based on the
of all the major pro-Europeans, the most important political forces of Europe.
I agree with Andrew Duff that we also probably need to reform some of our European political parties, so that we can also have a collective expression in the European public space of this European democracy. Today some of you said ‘yes, but’. Please, among pro-Europeans, do not say the ‘but’, just say ‘yes’. You do not say to your loved ones – your wife or your girlfriend, your husband or your boyfriend – ‘I love you, but’, you say ‘I love you, I support you’. We need your support to make Europe stronger because Europe’s real problem is, as I said, also a problem of confidence."@en1
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