Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2011-12-13-Speech-2-534-000"
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"en.20111213.33.2-534-000"2
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"Madam President, Commissioner, I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the two rapporteurs for having brilliantly handled the difficult task of bringing together these two neighbourhood policies, while also extending my gratitude to Commissioner Füle, who is trying to bring some political structure to this neighbourhood process, something that was lacking in the past. For different reasons, these regions are of great strategic importance to us, which is why we are not just helping these countries, but actually acting in our own interests.
It is clear to me that these countries are free to make their own decisions, that people have the feeling that we support their freedom and their way of life, and that we need to see both of these elements existing in harmony if this is to work. That is why structured aid is important to me – aid that happens faster, that includes opportunities for growth, employment and education and that can be provided where it is needed rather than simply commissioning studies. In the past, we were content with the soft option of simply commissioning studies on issues such as expansion in Central and Eastern Europe and other questions. The money then went to Germany, the UK or the Netherlands, where the recipients of the studies were located, rather than to the countries that needed it. I believe that improvements are in order here, so that the money really reaches people on the ground.
We need to promote the multilateral process. In North Africa, for example, 15% of trade is purely internal. If the multilateral approach is promoted, then there are enormous opportunities for growth, as well as opportunities to come together more closely on a political level, overcoming disputes between countries because incentives are provided, offering benefits when countries cooperate. Nonetheless, it should not always only be our bilateral relations with the relevant countries and the associated free trade zones, association agreements, perhaps, in particular, the Eastern Neighbourhood, that have a European perspective. I would say that it is important to discuss issues relating to the European Economic Area. However, the same applies to our willingness to open our borders in the interests of fair trading conditions.
Commissioner, I believe it is important to place greater emphasis on the question of promoting democracy and that the idea of an endowment foundation is a good one. You should, however, reconsider whether this cannot be achieved at Community level. We have a lot of money in the pot, as well as an instrument for supporting human rights, etc. We should make use of this before it atrophies. It would be a major mistake if we were to allow this to become an intergovernmental arrangement."@en1
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