Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2007-10-10-Speech-3-043"
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"en.20071010.16.3-043"2
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"I would like to begin by thanking you, on behalf of the Portuguese socialist delegation, for all the expressions of sympathy on the death of my dear friend, Fausto Correia. We are all – Portugal’s democracy, the Portuguese socialist party and this Parliament – the poorer for his passing.
With one week to go before the informal summit meeting, I want to be optimistic and believe that good sense will prevail. I want to be optimistic and believe that each of the 27 Member States will assume its political responsibilities towards the citizens of the respective countries, towards European citizens and towards the world. I want to believe that on 19 October the European Council will conclude a political agreement and will approve the Reform Treaty, putting an end to this impasse which has existed for too long.
I am optimistic because we are all aware of the need to respond to the European citizens’ expectations and doubts and they are legitimately wondering about the global role played by the European Union and about the advantages it will bring for their future. I want to be optimistic because we all know that the world is watching Europe and waiting for a positive sign. We all know that the world needs a united and cohesive Europe. We all know that the world does not stop and that Europe cannot remain imprisoned in its national egotisms. We all know that it is necessary to overcome the impasse in order to channel our energies towards promoting economic development, creating jobs and combating climate change. Those are priorities.
The lawyers have reached agreement on the drafting of the text for the Treaty plus its annexes. Technical/legal difficulties, although complex, were resolved. The IGC fulfilled the mandate entrusted to it by the Council. The Portuguese Presidency did everything within its power to overcome the obstacles. The European Parliament did its work both within the IGC and outside that Conference, where our colleagues Elmar Brok, Enrique Barón Crespo and Andrew Duff made an invaluable contribution. That means that to date all have done their duty with a great sense of responsibility and within the time allowed. It is now hoped that no artificial obstacles will be raised, dictated by short-term national political circumstances rather than by any objective reservations about the Treaty content. No one would understand if those same Heads of State and Government who approved the IGC mandate were to go back on what they had already said. That would be to their discredit. We would then certainly be entering a crisis with unforeseeable consequences. The text might not be the best, but it is an opportunity and is better than nothing.
Let me end by quoting what Jean Monnet said: ‘I have always believed that Europe would be built through crises and that it would be the sum of their solutions’. Wise and prophetic words. Let us hope that Europe is able to make history, to write another page in the story of the building of Europe."@en1
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