Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-10-21-Speech-1-040"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2002-10-21"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Stability and Growth Pact2
dcterms:Language	"fr"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20021021.4.1-040"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2002-10-21-Speech-1-0412
lpv:speaker	lp:Alain Lipietz2
lpv:spokenAs	member; Delegation for relations with the countries of South America and MERCOSUR (2002-02-07--2004-07-19)3 member; G/EFA (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; ECON (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 substitute; EMPL (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 unknown; Les Verts-Europe-Ecologie (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, I can only congratulate you on the decision you have finally taken on the Stability and Growth Pact included in the Treaty of Amsterdam. I agree it was stupid to set in advance the date by which all the Member States simultaneously had to achieve a balanced budget. The budget deficit is a part of the economic policy, the short-term economic policy. What is more, it is the only part remaining after the European Central Bank’s display of irresponsibility. The level of deficit should, therefore, depend solely on the prevailing situation on a given date. I agree it was stupid to set the same margin for manoeuvre – 3% – for all countries, as some are already in a great deal of debt, while others are not. Some only contribute marginally to European aggregate data, while others are the driving force of the common market. So why did the Amsterdam negotiators, who were not stupid either, adopt a stupid rule? And, first of all, was a rule necessary? Unlike the French Minister for the Economy, Mr Mer, I do not think a country can ignore its commitments on the pretext that it has other priorities, in this case, reducing taxes for the rich. I agree we need rules that apply to all the countries of our Europe. If we want intelligent, flexible rules, however, a common economic authority must be able to take decisions according to the common situation. It is the short-sightedness of the Amsterdam negotiators, their rejection of a true federal Europe which led them to adopt a stupid rule, setting the same deficit limits, the same deadline for compliance, in advance, for all Member States. May your positive intervention, Mr President, convince the Convention, the European Council and Europe as a whole to choose intelligence over stupidity, to opt for a federal constitution."@en1

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