Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-11-20-Speech-4-014"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2003-11-20"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Subsidy package - Community action programmes2
dcterms:Language	"pt"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20031120.1.4-014"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2003-11-20-Speech-4-0152
lpv:speaker	lp:Carlos Coelho2
lpv:spokenAs	member; EPP-ED (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; Delegation to the EU-Czech Republic Joint Parliamentary Committee (2003-03-10--2004-04-30)3 unknown; Partido Social Democrata (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 substitute; Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I congratulate all the draftsmen of the reports that we are discussing today, specifically Mr Sacrédeus and Mrs Kratsa Tsagaropoulou, although I shall use this speaking time in the joint debate on the subsidy package to discuss Mrs Rühle’s report and the creation of a Community action programme to promote active European citizenship. I congratulate Mrs Rühle on her work, and we broadly support her proposals. I thank her for the willingness she demonstrated in the Committee on Citizens’ Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs, to accept the amendments that I tabled, together with Messrs Hernández Mollar and Marcelino Oreja. I agree with the rapporteur when she insists that the fact that the programme’s main ambition centres on reducing the democratic deficit must be clarified and emphasised. Some reports that this Parliament has adopted clearly underline the need to strengthen and enhance the idea of European citizenship which, to judge by the levels of participation in the elections to this Parliament, needs to be promoted as a matter of urgency. I also agree with the need to give greater visibility to the obligation for transparency. Organisations that receive funds must clearly state that they have done so and also quote the amounts, both in the publications that they promote and on the websites that they own or contribute to. We must also call for the results of these programmes to be disseminated: the use of European taxpayers’ money must be counterbalanced by an evaluation of the practical benefits of the actions receiving funds. I also add my voice to that of the rapporteur and that of the previous speaker Mr Ojeda Sanz, when they call for bureaucratic procedures to be simplified. These must be reduced to the absolute minimum. Commissioner, the Commission must ensure that payments are made on time. Unjustifiable delays in transferring grants often compromise the effectiveness of the actions, damage the European Union’s image and create difficulties for the organisations which, in good faith, work together with us on disseminating this ideal. This programme is about strengthening the bonds of European citizenship, boosting civic and democratic participation and raising awareness of the European ideal and the workings of its institutions. There is no doubting the need to promote active citizenship, both by supporting organisations working in this field and by promoting actions with this aim. This is, therefore, an attempt to bring the citizens of the European Union closer, involving them in a direct or indirect dialogue with the Union and its institutions. I also agree with the need to adopt exceptional and provisional measures to ensure the funding and implementation of actions in 2004. For all of these reasons, taking into account the amendments that we tabled, we will vote in favour of this report."@en1

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