Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-04-09-Speech-3-010"
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"en.20030409.1.3-010"2
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"Self-evidently none of these were points of order, but they reflect the deep concern of colleagues and so I was prepared to take them.
As regards today's business, as you know, we are about to begin a joint debate on two reports and ten recommendations, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy, with regard to the most ambitious enlargement in the history of the European Union. It is, in the life of our Parliament, and in the life of the European Union, one of the most significant votes that elected representatives have been called upon to take. I have to tell you, with considerable regret, that I have been informed by the Inter-Trade Union Committee of the European Parliament that it has decided to organise a strike today at 11 a.m. to coincide with this debate.
I want to tell you that I altered my schedule on Monday night here in Strasbourg in order to meet with the representatives of the Inter-Trade Union Committee. I indicated to them my willingness to intervene at the highest level with the other institutions to express the concerns that they had drawn to my attention.
I want to point out that they have no dispute at this time with the Parliament as their employer. Indeed Parliament, as an institution, is perhaps their closest ally in terms of respecting the interests they expressed to me. Nonetheless, I was not prepared to make this intervention under duress and invited my interlocutors from the Inter-Trade Union Committee to suspend the proposed action. I was informed yesterday afternoon that they intend to proceed.
It is to be deeply regretted that the work of parliamentary democracy, at a time like this, should be called into question. I am not sure precisely what will happen at 11 a.m. today. I would like to appeal to you as colleagues in the House for your understanding and your assistance at that time. Should it be the case that some of the ordinary facilities which surround our debates are not available, it would still be my preference to ensure that our parliamentary engagement should continue if possible. I guarantee you that the debate that we have today will be translated with urgency into all the languages so that should there be any breakdown in the ordinary procedures for interpretation – although it would not be optimum nor entirely consistent with the Rules of Procedure – I will use every endeavour to inform people in all languages at the earliest stage.
This is a choice for Members of the House. Members are entitled to invoke the Rules and insist that the President suspend the sitting in the event that not all the facilities are available. I do not yet know what the case will be, but in the context of what we are doing today, our political duty, if we can, is to proceed with our business with serenity. I invite you to cooperate in doing so, in voting at midday as we plan, and to keep our rendezvous with European history."@en1
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