Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-03-11-Speech-1-086"
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"en.20020311.7.1-086"2
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"Mr President, firstly I should like to thank the rapporteur, Mr Ferber, for all his work and, indeed, thank the Commissioner for his work. Some of you might find that a little surprising, as it is well known that Commissioner Bolkestein and I have not seen eye to eye on this matter all of the time. However, what we have from the Council is the result of some good work all round.
I want to highlight what we as a Parliament asked for in the first reading and what we actually got. We asked for controlled and gradual liberalisation. Did the Council agree with that? Yes, they did. We asked for codecision for the European Parliament for any future steps to full liberalisation. Did we get that? Yes, we did. We asked for special services to be taken out of the directive. Did they agree with that? Yes, they did. We also asked for the universal service to be guaranteed. Did they give us that? Yes, they did.
The one thing they did not give us was the starting point of 150 grammes for that controlled and gradual liberalisation. As the rapporteur said, they came up with a compromise of 100 and then 50 grammes. That is not bad going for a European Parliament to put five demands to the Council, get four of them in full and half of the other. Therefore, I would like to make those people who wish to stick to the 150 gramme level aware of what their actions will lead to should they pursue that particular policy.
If we go for 150 grammes it will lead to a failure of the agreement. The Council common position will unravel, and collapse. All our gains, including codecision on future moves will be lost and the Commission will then move in under Article 80 – as I am sure they are keen to do – and give us full liberalisation sooner rather than later.
If ever there was a classic case of cutting off your nose to spite your face, it is that of those people advocating 150 grammes.
Finally, through this Chamber I wish to make a plea to Postcomm, the British postal regulator. You now have an opportunity, through this directive, to end your self-declared war on the British Post Office and the British people. We have all been impressed by your macho image, clearly learned from watching too many World Wrestling Federation bouts. But Europe has showed you how to maintain a viable post office offering a universal service of excellent quality at an affordable price. So for God's sake, Postcomm, get off the battlements and see sense!"@en1
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