Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2008-10-09-Speech-4-024"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2008-10-09"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Use by Parliament of the symbols of the Union (new Rule 202a) (debate)2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20081009.3.4-024"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2008-10-09-Speech-4-0252
lpv:speaker	lp:György Schöpflin2
lpv:spoken text	"Mr President, we frequently hear the opinion that symbols are a waste of time and that the European Union should not concern itself with such irrelevant questions. Rather, this argument goes, the European Union’s job is to focus on bread-and-butter issues like employment or trade. This approach is completely mistaken and wholly misunderstands what symbols are about. If you look carefully at how institutions work, then it will rapidly become clear that every institution maintains a set of symbols. These symbols carry a message that people will recognise and act as a shorthand version of that institution. Without institutions, democratic politics cannot exist. So symbols are a necessary part of democracy that the EU regards as being central to its identity. Besides, if symbols were as marginal as their opponents say, then why bother to oppose them? The European Parliament, as the pivotal democratic body of the European Union, has every reason to promote the symbols of Europe as a means of connecting itself with the voters of Europe. Those who are against the symbols of Europe are basically questioning European democracy itself. One could further argue that this is too fluid and crisis-ridden a time to be thinking of the symbols of Europe, and thus that it is not the right moment for Parliament to spend time on symbols. Maybe so, but timing is something that always can and will be debated. In the long run, it will not matter whether the symbols of Parliament and of the European Union are debated now or at some later date. So I give my full support to this important and cogent report."@en1
lpv:spokenAs	substitute; AFCO (2007-01-31--2009-07-13)3 member; Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee (2004-09-15--2009-07-13)3 member; EPP-ED (2004-07-20--2009-07-13)3 substitute; SEDE (2007-02-13--2009-07-13)3 member; AFET (2007-01-31--2009-07-13)3 unknown; Fidesz-Magyar Polgári Szövetség (2004-07-20--2009-07-13)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"György Schöpflin (PPE-DE ). -"1
lpv:videoURI	<go to Events_and_structure europarl>2

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