Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-03-10-Speech-3-017"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2004-03-10"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Preparation of the European Council (Brussels, 25-26 March 2004) – Follow-up to the IGC2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20040310.1.3-017"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2004-03-10-Speech-3-0182
lpv:speaker	lp:Andrew Duff2
lpv:spoken text	"Mr President, I would like to make four proposals to help the IGC reach a successful conclusion. Firstly, as regards the qualified majority formula, we need to raise the number of states needed to form a majority, while at the same time raising the population threshold needed to form a blocking minority. That should please the smaller states and not frighten those larger states which are genuinely committed to making it simpler for the Council to reach a decision. The sensible equation which seems to be commanding greater support is 55-55. Secondly, the IGC needs to drop from the constitution a specific number for the size of the Commission, a college which needs to grow and shrink according to supply and demand like any national administration. We should also drop the principle of equal rotation. Frankly, having a Commission without a representative from France would be fairly implausible. Mr Giscard d'Estaing himself concedes that the Convention's formula for the Commission was not the most glorious of our many achievements, and Commissioner Kinnock agrees. Thirdly, the IGC should be convened at summit level, preferably before 1 May, to enable a genuine political debate with a European dimension to be held. So far, unfortunately, this has simply not taken place. Fourthly and finally, our leaders need to find the moral courage to shape Europe politically. If they fail to do so they will be consigned to history as foolish cowards."@en1
lpv:spokenAs	member; ELDR (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; AFCO (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 substitute; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 unknown; Liberal Democrat Party (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 vice-chair; Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee (2002-02-07--2004-07-19)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"Duff (ELDR )."1

Named graphs describing this resource:

The resource appears as object in 2 triples

Context graph