Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/1999-09-14-Speech-2-041"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"1999-09-14"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Statement by Mr Prodi2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.19990914.1.2-041"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:1999-09-14-Speech-2-0422
lpv:speaker	lp:Edward Mcmillan-scott2
lpv:spoken text	"Mr President, I should like to make four points. The Conservatives are opposed to the return of any of the former Commission and we have been denied votes on individual Commissioners. Secondly, the left-wing composition of the proposed Commission is wholly contrary to the views of Europe’s voters as shown in June. Thirdly, important questions on probity have still not been answered in respect of some of the Commissioners-designate. Fourthly, we are concerned that some are simply not up to the job. Over the past two weeks Conservative MEPs, as others, have cross-examined the nominated European Commissioners. Our criteria were competence, policy and background. Right from the outset we demanded an open vote in every parliamentary committee in order to allow MEPs to register their opinion on individual EU Commissioners. Time and again this request was blocked. Finding ourselves unable to hold individual Commissioners to account, Conservative MEPs are left with no choice but to oppose, on the grounds of democratic principle, the incoming team of European Commissioners. We insist on responsibility and accountability. Even Professor Prodi declined to face an open hearing. In most of our countries, perhaps all, a minister who misleads parliament or who fails to take action to deal with grave mismanagement would step down. In the Wise Men’s report into the last Commission, it was noted that it is becoming difficult to find anyone who has even the slightest sense of responsibility. It is even less reassuring to note that during their time as commissioners not once were the EU accounts effectively signed off. It is hardly an advertisement for responsible financial governance. The outgoing Commission stood on collegiate responsibility. Four governments reappointed their Commissioners. For these reasons, Conservative MEPs oppose the four returnees. This is not personal. It is not political. It is a point of principle. The only way to deliver on this is to vote against the Commission as a whole. We want the European Parliament to be given the power to dismiss individual Commissioners for maladministration or fraud. By failing to allow votes on individual Commissioners, MEPs have been denied an important democratic right. We want a European Union that is efficient and accountable and where Europe’s institutions are kept under close scrutiny. We are not anti-European Commission. We are against fraud and corruption, mismanagement and inefficiency. We want a Commission which works, which really does less better. Wednesday’s vote is an important opportunity to signal to the new Commission that business as usual cannot be the guiding principle in Brussels."@en1
lpv:spokenAs	unknown; Conservative and Unionist Party (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; EPP-ED (1999-07-20--1999-10-11)3 chair; Delegation to the European Economic Area Joint Parliamentary Committee (EEA) (1999-07-22--2002-01-14)3 member; Conference of Delegation Chairs (1999-07-22--2002-01-14)3 member; BUDG (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 substitute; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"McMillan-Scott (PPE )."1

Named graphs describing this resource:

The resource appears as object in 2 triples

Context graph