Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-07-22-Speech-4-013"
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"en.20040722.1.4-013"2
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"Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, a major enlargement of the European Union took place just a few months ago. For recent entrants to the Union, Mr Barroso’s term of office will be the first full term of a President of the European Commission. This is a momentous event. Mrs Muscardini, our group leader, has already stated that Mr Barroso can count on our full support. I would like to assure Mr Barroso that he can also count on the full support of my home party in Poland, the Truth and Justice Party. It is through that party that I find myself in this august assembly.
The initial challenge facing Mr Barroso will be to ensure the consolidation of this new-look Europe of twenty-five Member States. That will be the first problem he must tackle. Of course, he will also need to ensure that the next group of candidate countries is ready for accession. Consequently, priority must be given to economic consolidation and to levelling out the differences between countries of the so-called Old Union and the New.
Two crucial issues spring to mind in this connection. Firstly, free market principles must continue to be upheld. This means recent entrants to the Union should not be subjected to political or practical pressure to change their systems of taxation. That would be unacceptable, when the existing systems can create better conditions for their economies than the higher taxes levied in countries of the Old Union.
The second economic issue arising is the budget. We cannot agree to cuts in the budget. This is because after allowing for standard budget expenditure, the funds remaining for aid to recent entrants would be inadequate.
Yesterday I referred to the concerns expressed on the subject of the Constitution. Clearly, these represent a further challenge for the next President of the Commission. In conclusion, I shall simply remind the House of Montesquieu’s assertion that respect for local legislation and traditions is essential for the efficient operation of a centralised body. Let us say ‘yes’ to mutual support and ‘no’ to centralisation."@en1
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