Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-05-14-Speech-2-315"
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"en.20020514.13.2-315"2
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"The good doctor Duisenberg has been telling us for several months that economic recovery is underway. Disciples of the other good doctor – Doctor Coué – have been saying the same thing. They see the signs of recovery almost everywhere, in the same way that a fortune-teller can predict happiness by looking at tea leaves. What we should actually be asking ourselves is whether or not we have gone into recession.
Faced with this reality, the liberal ideas governing the European Union’s economic policy would seem to be rather harmful. The so-called Stability and Growth Pact and the independence of the European Central Bank are starving the authorities of the resources to cope with the crisis. In light of this situation, the infamous Lisbon declaration has more to do with some magical formula than with politics, and the Commission recommendation for the 2002 Broad Guidelines of the Economic Policy of the Member States and the Community makes use of the same hocus-pocus.
When the invisible hand of the market works, everything works, more or less. I say more or less, because we must acknowledge that, in spite of everything, the gap between the rich and poor continues to grow inexorably. This is happening throughout the world as well as in Europe, with tragic consequences, and we see, to take the example of the Republic of France, that those politicians who appeal to the masses are waiting in the wings to take advantage of the situation.
Incidentally, I would like to congratulate the handful of Members who recently organised the Europe of the Poor Summit in conjunction with the Fourth World Movement NGO. Seventeen per cent of the population today make up this Europe: in other words, there are 60 million people who survive on less than 60% of the average income.
Allow me to return to the idea of the invisible hand, if I may. When the hand suffers from pins and needles, tingling and rheumatism, which appears to be the case at the moment, everything stops working. It will be increasingly difficult for the Member States to respect the liberal restrictions, such as the infamous 3% threshold. And what can I say about the budgetary balance for 2004? Several States are experiencing difficulties: Germany, for example, is currently in this situation, and, as you know, Germany has the strongest economy of the Fifteen. Berlin only has to sneeze and Europe catches a cold. Take the example of our trans-Atlantic neighbours: with their usual pragmatism, the United States of North America, who extol the virtues of liberalism, have just proven once again that anti-liberal measures must occasionally be used. We would do well to draw some inspiration from that side of the Atlantic.
Tentatively, rather too tentatively in fact – and I am about to finish, Mr President – the rapporteur is introducing some homeopathic amendments using the liberal credo of the Commission. I have considerable regard for Bruno Trentin but…"@en1
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