Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-10-13-Speech-3-031"
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"en.20041013.3.3-031"2
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"Mr President, Mr President of the Commission, it is almost an event to see you in this House, given the extent to which your repeated absences in 2004 have been noticed and have been felt as a sign of your lack of interest in our Parliament. I fear that, when it comes to taking stock, the role you have played has not come up to our expectations.
Admittedly, a lot of Commissioners have done some excellent work, and we are sorry to see them go. There have been many instances of progress in the field of security in all its forms. We thank Mrs de Palacio, whose courage we have appreciated; Mr Liikanen, who has succeeded in carrying a number of important issues forward; Mr Busquin, for his efforts on research; and Mr Barnier, who has offered us a new vision of the regional funds. I must also mention the difficulties overcome by Mr Byrne in confronting the problems of food safety, and Mrs Reding and Mr Vitorino, whose skills we have appreciated.
That being said, Mr Prodi, where was the inspiration so eagerly awaited by MEPs? Although you have successfully carried enlargement through, you have never clearly launched the debate on Europe’s borders and on migration flows. You have lacked ambition in implementing the Lisbon strategy, in improving economic governance and in promoting policies in favour of young people.
Why, Mr Prodi, is the image of the European Commission deteriorating to such an extent in the eyes of our fellow citizens? Here is one practical example: this morning, I learn that, in connection with the Geneva-Lyon-Bordeaux axis, your Commission, urged on by Mr Bolkestein, is being extremely and incomprehensibly rigid in requiring a second European call for tenders for completion of the remaining 50 kilometres at a time when a tender has already been accepted for the Lyon-Bordeaux axis. Issuing a second European call for tenders, for the sake of 50 kilometres, is a waste of time and money. It is a technocratic decision that goes against common sense. How am I to explain to my fellow citizens that this decision will be more expensive and that it will cause delay? I know what they will say to me on the subject of Europe.
Mr Prodi, if the Commission acts in this way, no amount of communication strategies will prevent your and our efforts on the ground from being in vain. If people are to believe in a strong Europe that is closer to the people, there is still everything to be done in this area."@en1
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