Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-10-24-Speech-3-237"
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"en.20011024.11.3-237"2
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".
Mr President, Commissioner, and those ladies and gentlemen who are still awake, the economic integration of Europe is an objective which many, even among those who oppose political integration, can swallow without indigestion. The promotion of local shipping also enjoys broad favour, since preservation of the environment and a significant reduction of congestion on our roads are essential. The Commission's proposal for a common form for ports is a sensible step (even though on this occasion it does not arouse political passions) towards the simplification of port formalities. It must be said that the forms in use at present vary greatly between Member States. The proposed directive would mean that the International Maritime Organisation's FAL forms would always be approved in our ports. For once we are getting a proposal from the Commission which does not increase bureaucracy in any way. It would be nice if this could happen more often. This stems from the fact that the Member States are by no means obliged to demand any forms; whereas, if a Member State regards it as necessary to obtain information covered by the proposed directive, it must always accept the FAL forms.
I support the Commission's proposal, and take the view that we should welcome it with open arms. I have made a few technical adjustments which are in line with the Council of Ministers' preliminary position. I believe that we can now, exceptionally, get by with a single reading. I also thank the members of the Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism, who succeeded in keeping the political animal which lurks in all of us under control, and did not churn out revisions of their own. Putting our own stamp on everything must not lead to the objectives themselves being obscured and timetables being interfered with. This time we neatly avoided this pitfall.
The general adoption of the IMO's FAL documents will promote the efficient functioning of the common market, and it definitely represents a welcome improvement. I do not, however, wish to overestimate its importance, since what is involved here is merely a very small part of a larger whole. We will not bring dynamism to ports merely by standardising forms; we need to introduce competition to ports as well. The significance of my report does, in fact, largely hinge on the question of whether we will have the courage also to approve the Commission's proposal for deregulating port services. I hope that Parliament will continue the project of building Europe by dismantling monopolies. And, in this context, I look symbolically and appealingly in the direction of my highly esteemed colleague Mr Jarzembowski.
Finally, I wish to give thanks once again for the cooperation of the Commission and of the Council. Europe needs constructive action and less politically-motivated confrontation. I trust that we will be able to improve the status of shipping by the action now proposed. Ladies and gentlemen, the rudder is set. Let us steer Europe in the direction of competitive ports!"@en1
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