Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-12-11-Speech-2-133"
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"en.20011211.7.2-133"2
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"Mr President, I also want to begin by thanking the rapporteurs, Mr Costa Neves, Mrs Buitenweg etc. They have not only sought broad solutions within Parliament but have also persistently maintained our positions in relation to the Council, something which has been especially important. I also want to thank the Council and the Commission. We have sometimes been critical about the forms, especially in connection with the first conciliation, but we nonetheless came up with a constructive approach in the end.
It has been possible to solve a number of difficult issues. It is, of course
important that we have been able to produce substantial additional aid for Afghanistan, given the enormous needs that exist. Personally, I am delighted that we have been able to direct a portion of this aid to women’s involvement in constructing the future Afghanistan.
In the same way, there is satisfaction to be found in the fact that we came up with solutions both for the Spanish and Portuguese fishing fleets and for aid to the border regions.
In spite of the fact that work on the budget has, then, proceeded well, we see a number of problems for the future. One of the biggest problems is that the EU budget is not flexible enough. Each year, we are witness to events in the world around us which require the EU to contribute resources without delay. In 2000, this was the case with Kosovo and in 2001 with Serbia, and now this year it is the case with Afghanistan. We have released funds for these unexpected situations, for example through the flexibility mechanism, but the process has been extremely difficult. Now, moreover, we are seeing its shortcomings for, this year, we had to use the flexibility mechanism for other, heading-2, aid. When, at the same time, a crisis like that in Afghanistan occurs, the problem becomes clear. Obviously, we ought, therefore, seriously to discuss the approach laid down in the interinstitutional agreement, namely that of revising the ceiling in the budget. The Council is steadfastly saying no to this
our having a budget, large amounts of which are never used. The problem, then, is that all that Parliament can do is account for every single krona in the budget, right up to the ceiling, and not allow for any margins for unforeseen events, or else cut back on other of its high priorities and thus let recipients of aid in other parts of the world in practice pay for our new needs in the Balkans or Afghanistan.
We can naturally solve such a dilemma
perhaps even twice, but when such initiatives tend to become permanent and when the situations in Kosovo, Serbia or Afghanistan give rise to multiannual programmes that pile up without the other needs disappearing, then the situation becomes untenable in the end. I believe that one of the major issues for next year will be that of finding new ways to increased flexibility. I therefore welcome the Commission’s ideas as a starting point for this discussion and hope that the Council will show a corresponding open-mindedness.
Another fundamental error is, of course, the poor implementation of the EU’s budget. We have now launched a number of new methods, which are not only about increasing payments. Instead, we are trying to identify those areas we think of as lagging abnormally behind. We are trying to specify what is required of the implementation profile. We have conducted extensive discussions as to which services are required if we are to be able to implement initiatives in different policy areas. Finally, we have also, as Mr Wijkman pointed out, launched a new benchmarking method in the area of aid. These are important areas of progress, but I believe that they need to be developed further in future if we are to be able to win back people’s confidence in how we handle taxpayers’ money.
As next year's rapporteur, I naturally see a number of important areas that have to be worked through. Enlargement is drawing ever nearer. During the preparations, we must, quite simply, consider not only the short-term perspective but also the long-term perspective when enlargement seriously makes itself felt in the budget too. Finally, we must also take a genuine look at reforming the Commission.
If we do not succeed in this – and it is not only a question of reviewing the regulations but, above all, of looking at evaluation, follow-up and how we use taxpayers’ money – then I do not believe we shall succeed in changing people’s view of the EU. We must have effective administration and make sure that people regain their confidence in the European Union. That is one of the most important tasks for future work on the budget."@en1
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