Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-11-14-Speech-2-205"
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"en.20061114.36.2-205"2
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"Mr President, I would like to welcome President Barroso and the Members of the Commission to the Chamber.
Two points struck me immediately in the speeches and comments I heard earlier on. Firstly, when did it become a sin to be radical; when was it ordained that we should not try to create something new and different and, when we see mistakes, not try to right them? In particular, the fact that we live in such a rapidly changing world brought about through innovation and technology requires a more rapid response from the European Union to ensure that we can defend as best as possible the interests of all EU citizens.
Secondly, there are obviously going to be carry-over issues from one year to the next on which agreement has yet to be reached. We have already seen this when dealing with the Services Directive over the last six years, where even now we are only at second reading. We will have to deal with many more issues like that.
I would, however, like to make three points. Firstly, with regard to the Lisbon Agenda, there is still so much lacking in terms of the necessary legislative framework that must be put in place to make Lisbon a reality. The whole area of innovation, research and development is one that we talk about a lot, but in which concrete legislative action to protect design, patents and copyright, and to allow for proper investment in research and development, in financial terms, is still lacking.
I have spoken many times in this Chamber on the European Institute of Technology and the wonderful advance and focal point for excellence that would represent. However, this is the positive side of things, and we seem to be regressing in other areas.
The Commission is talking about a harmonised taxation system, but wherever harmonised taxation has taken place it has been contrary to good competition, economic growth and employment growth. Tax competition within the European Union has been healthy for growth and has been beneficial and of assistance. One must of course have a level playing field as regards state aids and other similar areas, and we do have this. We can quite rightly bring Member States under control when they go above and beyond what is allowable as regards assisting industries or assisting employment creation opportunities. However, taxation is solely a national interest issue. It is one that still requires unanimous agreement, and I think it behoves us to stand up and say that the legal bases of the Treaties do not allow the Commission to come forward with a proposal for tax harmonisation. They do not allow it to force countries to increase taxes, and they do not allow it to force countries to lower taxes.
Finally, the CFSP has been one of the European Union’s key successes. Take Kosovo, Africa and other developments around the world, where the European Union has responded positively to putting peacekeepers and police forces in the field and to promoting other constructive developments on the ground. We must continue to enlarge and expand that role."@en1
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