Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-04-12-Speech-2-350"
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"en.20050412.32.2-350"2
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".
Ladies and gentlemen, one of the goals enshrined in the EU Treaties is the promotion of social, economic and territorial cohesion and solidarity between Member States. There are a great many challenges currently facing the European Union, which include global competition, an ageing society and the development of a knowledge-based economy. Yet there can be no question that one of the most important is the widening development gap between European regions, and even within these regions. This problem is due not only to the fact that new and relatively poor Central and Eastern European countries have joined the EU, giving rise to a sudden increase in disparities. The gap between different regions has been widening for many years, and this also holds true for the old Member States. The aim of the EU’s cohesion policy is to prevent such disparities, yet we should not forget that cohesion policy also implements key political goals, as well as having a sound economic base. European integration is founded on the principle of solidarity, and the most important aspect of solidarity is the desire for cohesion. European solidarity is the basis of European integration, and without it Europe would be nothing but a customs union. Cohesion policy should therefore be the main priority of the new Financial Perspective for 2007-2013, and funding should be targeted at the poorest regions and countries, as the primary function of cohesion policy must be to close development gaps between regions.
An appropriate level of funding must be guaranteed in order to implement development goals effectively. The new Financial Perspective must respond to the changes that have occurred, and it must make allowance for the fact that the European Union’s population increased one year ago by over 70 million inhabitants of less-developed regions. At the same time, regulatory changes must be made before any proposals to limit the EU’s budget are adopted. A simple rule should be applied in this instance, namely that a smaller budget means less state interference in the economy and completion of the common market. To my surprise, however, some of the Member States calling for a reduction in the minimum expenditure threshold, for example France and Germany, are also opposing the establishment of a genuine common market in services, as set out in the draft services directive, for example."@en1
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