Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-04-12-Speech-3-060"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2000-04-12"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:IGC2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20000412.2.3-060"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2000-04-12-Speech-3-0612
lpv:speaker	lp:Gerard Collins2
lpv:spoken text	"Mr President, I support the enlargement of the European Union because I know it will consolidate the new democracies in eastern and central Europe. I know it will also increase the size of the European Union as a trading block which in time will ensure that the Union as an economic entity becomes more competitive. I know that reform within the existing European institutions must take place. However, any changes within the internal decision-making procedures must be balanced and fair. We do not want to see a two-tier European Union in which larger Member States dictate the pace at the expense of the smaller Member States. For example, the report which we are debating today recommends a rotation system for the composition of the European Commission. This will mean that the automatic entitlement of smaller Member States to have one Member of the Commission will be downgraded. I do not believe that this is a particularly sensible proposal. 380 million citizens of the Union have an affinity with the Commission. Certainly, from an Irish perspective, Irish people recognise the importance of the Commission as an institutional body within the European Union. It is still the institution that controls the operations of competition policy, the common agricultural policy, the common fisheries policy and the common transport policy. The Union must draw nearer to the citizens of the Union. We should also remember that some Member States, including my country, must hold a referendum on any Treaty changes that arise at the forthcoming IGC. The loss of an automatic right to nominate a Commissioner would certainly be a very difficult, if not impossible, proposal to sell to an Irish electorate in this referendum. I would now like to return to the issue of extending the qualified majority voting system at European Council level. The Council represents the interests of the 15 Member State governments within the institutional framework of the Union and currently, under existing EU Treaties, unanimous agreement of the 15 Member States is required for any tax changes sought within the Union. The report we are discussing today seeks to extend qualified majority voting to all legislative activities except those of a constitutional nature. I believe that national Member States should retain the right of veto on taxation matters. The Irish taxation system is innovative in many ways and has contributed to our present growth rates. I do not believe that the extension of qualified majority voting to taxation matters at European Council level is a particularly welcome development."@en1
lpv:spokenAs	vice-chair; UEN (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 unknown; Fianna Fáil Party (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 chair; Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia and the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) (1999-07-22--2002-01-14)3 member; Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 member; Conference of Delegation Chairs (1999-07-22--2002-01-14)3 substitute; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"Collins (UEN )."1

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