Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-09-08-Speech-4-017"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2005-09-08"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:The Northern Dimension2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20050908.4.4-017"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2005-09-08-Speech-4-0182
lpv:speaker	lp:Alexander Stubb2
lpv:spoken text	"Mr President, I would like to start by making a point to the people who prepare the European Parliament agendas and also to the English interpretation booth. Today we are talking about the Dimension, not the Dimension. There is a rather substantial difference. There are four Nordic countries; the Northern Dimension encompasses the whole north of Europe. It is important to remember that when drawing up the agenda next time. I think that the Northern Dimension stands at a crossroads. It has two options. One is that it withers away under the Russian road map and becomes just a part of it. The second is that we start refocusing it, for instance towards the Baltic Sea. I happen to have a preference for the second option. I am very happy that the Commission is dealing with the matter today and that we are able to discuss it. I am also very happy to see that there are other non-Finns in the Chamber besides Mrs Wallis, who was the only non-Finn to speak about the subject in November 2003. So the concept is moving forward and that is a good thing. I would like to make three observations. Firstly, I think that the Northern Dimension should have its own budget line. I firmly believe that it needs it. If it is put under the neighbourhood policy I think it will only get crumbs from the general budget. So give it its own budget line. Secondly, I think we need to rejuvenate the Northern Dimension, give it more content than before. The ideas that Commissioner Michel put forward are a step in the right direction. However, I fully agree with, for example, Mrs Korhola and Mrs Hassi, who said that we should refocus it on the Baltic Sea, because that probably is the sickest sea we have in Europe today. To all the people sitting in the Parliament for the first time today, just remember that the Baltic Sea has an average depth of 59 metres compared to the two to three kilometres of the Mediterranean. If there were to be an oil accident, that would be the end of the Baltic Sea, and I am sure no one would like to see that happen. So let us get more focus. Thirdly, we need to start coordinating the institutions that are dealing with the Northern Dimension and the Baltic Sea region. We need more coordination between the Nordic Council, the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, and the Baltic Sea Council. They need to work together. I want to ask the Commissioner one final question. Do you not think it would be a good idea to have a Northern Dimension as the overarching concept, but a Baltic Sea strategy as an underlying theme working within the Northern Dimension?"@en1
lpv:spokenAs	member; EPP-ED (2004-07-20--2008-04-03)3 substitute; Delegation for relations with the United States (2004-09-15--2007-03-13)3 substitute; AFET (2005-01-13--2007-01-14)3 member; AFCO (2004-07-21--2007-01-14)3 unknown; Kansallinen Kokoomus (2004-07-20--2008-04-03)3 substitute; IMCO (2004-07-21--2007-01-14)3 member; CONT (2004-07-21--2007-01-14)3 member; Delegation to the EU-Bulgaria Joint Parliamentary Committee (2004-09-15--2006-12-31)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"Alexander Stubb (PPE-DE )."1 "Nordic"1 "Northern"1

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