Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-01-31-Speech-3-067"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2001-01-31"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Mediterranean region2
dcterms:Language	"nl"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20010131.4.3-067"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2001-01-31-Speech-3-0682
lpv:speaker	lp:Bas Belder2
lpv:spokenAs	member; EDD (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 unknown; Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij - Gereformeerd Politiek Verbond - Reformatorisch Politieke Federatie (1999-07-20--2002-03-17)3 member; Temporary committee on the Echelon interception system (2000-07-06--2001-09-05)3 member; Members from the European Parliament to the Joint Parliamentary Assembly of the Agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union (ACP-EU) (2000-10-05--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; Delegation for relations with the United States (1999-07-22--2002-01-14)3 substitute; Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, the two reports which we are debating today have at least one thing in common: they contain a whole raft of unfulfillable wishes and desires with regard to the Mediterranean region. Financially, we simply lack the resources to do an awful lot and what is more, the European Union’s external relations have been such that we cannot afford to be overly confident. It is high time we established priorities, thus allowing us to do the things we do outside the Union well. Recent statements made by Mr Solana confirm the need to prioritise. He referred to the Union’s strategy documents, including those with regard to the Mediterranean countries, as purely bureaucratic exercises. Ideas on paper hardly ever turn into reality in practice. However, the endless recitals and paragraphs in the documents before us do raise expectations among our partners, expectations which we cannot possibly fulfil, because we also have other responsibilities. Both reports are disparaging about those other responsibilities. According to the rapporteurs, our relationship with candidate countries, in particular, has led to the neglect of the southern countries, and that must now be put right. However, I do not agree with this line of thought. Enlargement deserves all our attention in the near future. If we want to do this properly, we will have our hands full. There is therefore certainly no chance of spending as much money on our southerly neighbours, certainly not if we bear in mind how reluctant Member States are to put more money into the Union’s fund. Additionally, both reports take an optimistic view of the Union’s influence in the political arena. We should not be under any illusions, particularly when it comes to the role which the European Union could play in the Middle-East peace process. I regret that both reports run the risk of not being taken seriously due to unrealistic goals. Indeed, the European Union could very well be of significance, especially in the economic sense, but also when it comes to the problem of refugees. We should only concern ourselves with matters where the European Union can provide added value and can really be of significance. Being modest as to in our abilities will enhance the quality of the European Union’s external relations."@en1

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