Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2010-09-07-Speech-2-582"
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"en.20100907.33.2-582"2
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"Madam President, I have been criticised for quite a lot of things during my long life, but never ever for having no passion, so that is the first time.
First, respect for those values and the commitment to promote them in common at EU level are two conditions for accession to the EU as provided for in Article 49 of the TEU and, exactly as some of you mentioned, when we are just judging if a would-be Member State is able to join the family, that is also a matter for those who have already joined the family.
Second, the violation of those values can trigger the warning and sanction procedure provided for in Article 7.
The operational nature of the list of values explains its brevity. Only the most important underlying values with a well-defined legal content have been listed. Conversely, in the second sentence, Article 2 explains the characteristics of the European model: pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men; and those characteristics help the application and the interpretation of those values.
It would be difficult at this stage if the values stated in Article 2 were to be in imminent danger as a result of the events evoked today. I do not think that these situations have any cross-border dimension which could justify any intervention from our side at this stage.
The Commission, and myself, in particular, as vice-president in charge of the digital agenda and the media, will remain vigilant and will defend press freedom, media pluralism, the right of journalists to protect the confidentiality of their sources and the capacity of the media to investigate corruption and the abuse of power.
I consider quality and investigative journalism, written press and news media to be an important feature of European political culture and democracy.
Finally, let me just say that I really am looking forward to the report by your rapporteur, which was mentioned by Ivo Belet. I am well aware of the developments concerning your report, and I welcome it very much and look forward to the results.
Having said that, finally let me assure you that I have listened carefully to all of you, and as I reflect on the next steps with my colleagues, I am ready to continue this debate with you, so I am looking forward to coming back and continuing this debate.
Still, I am grateful for all your interventions: I am aware that, on that score, I have beaten the President with his State of the Union speech this morning. There have been so many interventions tonight, and again I am grateful for that.
I have listened to your interventions. This is indeed freedom of expression, and I am grateful to be in a Parliament that not only tolerates freedom of expression outside, but also defends it in its own House.
Having said that, we do have a lot in common. We are both – and not only the Commission – the guardians of the treaty, so it is right that we are having the debate here and that we should be quite frank with each other in inferring what should be at stake.
And yet, with many of the Members of Parliament who took the floor tonight, I could not resist wondering which most of your countries are, those that you claim to know best. Indeed, one of the issues that I am touched by is that quite a number of Members of Parliament are from young democracies, and I think that is a warning.
You have been fighting for freedom of expression and you have been fighting for media pluralism, and we should all take that lesson into account, which is that you do not take something like that for granted but that you have to defend it, and if that is not passion, then I would love to have a drink with you after this session and find out what your definition of passion is.
Having said that, I would also like to underline that what Sofia in ’t Veld was mentioning is indeed true. I am really an open book on this matter and I am proud to be an open book. That does not mean that it is always possible to do it 100% your way, for we are indeed finding out what is the best in Europe and what is the best way we could take.
In order to conclude tonight’s debate, the Commission would like to recall that the new Article 2 of the Treaty on the EU enumerates in its first sentence the values upon which the Union is founded, which Member States must respect and which Member States must promote. These are: respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities.
The EU and the Member States are obliged to respect those values. I am absolutely certain that no one at this plenary session is against that line, for otherwise you would not be a Member of this Parliament, and the list contained in the first sentence of that article is not only declaratory but also assumes two concrete aspects."@en1
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