Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-12-14-Speech-4-092"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2000-12-14"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:VOTE2
dcterms:Language	"pt"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20001214.1.4-092"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2000-12-14-Speech-4-0932
lpv:speaker	lp:Luís Queiró2
lpv:spokenAs	substitute; PETI (1999-09-09--2002-01-14)3 unknown; Partido Popular (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 substitute; Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 member; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 vice-chair; UEN (2000-09-21--2004-07-19)3 member; Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America and Mexico (1999-09-30--2002-01-14)3
lpv:translated text	"We are aware that this European Council in Nice was perhaps the longest and most difficult summit in the history of the European Union. In fact, no other summit has ever had to face the prospect of such a vast expansion as this. We must therefore see its conclusions as the result of a compromise in which nobody was entirely the winner or entirely the loser. In my view, the Fifteen managed to agree on certain institutional changes that are indispensable if the Union is to function with a substantially higher number of members. Two changes that stand out are the commitment that each Member State will retain the right to appoint a commissioner and the adoption of better rules for access to the closer cooperation mechanism. Other positive aspects of this summit are the fact that the unanimity rule has been kept for decisions on both the Structural Funds and taxation, key areas for countries like Portugal which still need the solidarity of the European Union and the use of the tax system for a policy encouraging investment and saving. We cannot, however, ignore the fact that the solutions found for the complex decision-making system in the Council and the corresponding vote weighting increase the gap between the more and the less highly populated states, which is something we regard as less positive because of our concept of a Europe of sovereign nations. The resolution that was approved in this Parliament does not reflect these positions and concerns of ours, and even sends out an appeal for the current method of Intergovernmental Conferences to be abandoned in future. In our view, for as long as Europe is what it is, questions of a constitutional nature or of fundamental interest for the States, such as those that were debated in Nice, should not be resolved by any other means; that is, they should require unanimity. That is why my vote on this matter was negative."@en1

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