Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-11-15-Speech-4-029"
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"en.20011115.2.4-029"2
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"Mr President, in making our decisions on the aviation industry in Europe we have to take account of the interconnectedness of our economies and politics in Europe and globally as well.
The fact is that Aer Lingus in Ireland had already been hit by the downturn in the high-tech industries where much of the lucrative business travel for Aer Lingus had already been badly hit because businessmen and women were simply not travelling back and forth across the Atlantic. Clearly, 11 September virtually wiped out that business.
Tourism is also a major linchpin in the economy of Ireland. Our airline is an important asset in that area of the industry. If we allow that to go down the drain, who is going to service the Irish tourist economy?
The Council and the Commission are, I am afraid, confused. They are minimalist and grudging in their response to this crisis for the Irish airline. That is perceived to be so by the workers of Aer Lingus and the Irish people in general. We will pay the price in Europe for that perception. It is important that we recognise that the national carrier in every Member State in Europe is as important as the national anthem or the national flag. You can shake your head, but that is the reality. We have to take that into account. We may regret it, but we must take it into account in dealing with this crisis.
Finally, there are four things I would ask the Commission and the Council to address. There is an urgent need for a reply to the Irish Government's request to the Commission for permission to assist the Irish airline with the compensation that is due as a result of 11 September. There is an urgent need for the reform of the competition rules. There is an urgent need for assistance to help companies create alliances at a European level, which will ensure that the national carriers are not annihilated. Finally, we need firm proposals for the social fund package that has been talked about here today. Parliament should be discussing those proposals when we next meet in Strasbourg in December, not next June."@en1
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