Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2010-09-21-Speech-2-696"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2010-09-21"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:European strategy for the economic and social development of mountain regions, islands and sparsely populated areas (debate)2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20100921.23.2-696"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2010-09-21-Speech-2-6972
lpv:speaker	lp:Alyn Smith2
lpv:spoken text	"Mr President, I declare an interest as a vice-chair of the intergroup on islands and mountainous and sparsely populated areas. I would pay tribute to colleagues across the Chamber who have worked so hard to bring this subject onto the agenda because, Commissioner, while I very much welcome your presence here and welcome your statement, all the action in terms of actually setting the pace on implementing Article 174 and making it useful has taken place within this Parliament. You have a very enthusiastic partner in making Article 174 work for our citizens, because it sets us a challenge in terms of demonstrating real EU added-value for some of the most diverse and disparate communities we have within our Union. I stress because it is important to recognise that it is the communities that we are looking to assist. The geography – be that being an island, be that having mountains, be that being sparsely populated – is actually irrelevant. We are talking about a common problem created by different geographical specificities. That is where we need to make sure our categorisations actually fit – and they do not at present. The rules that we are operating with do not fit the specificities of the communities we are talking about and they often deliver perverse results. That is where we had a particular problem with the Regional Policy DG paper ‘Territories with specific geographic features’. I hope you will take to heart the criticism in paragraph 2 of the motion for a resolution by the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, because we mean it. We need a better system of classification than we have. This is not about giving more money to poor, handicapped areas. There is more than enough dynamism, excitement and enthusiasm across our islands in Scotland, mountainous areas and various places to help them heal themselves. However, we need to make sure, in particular, that State aid represents an addition rather than a hindrance to their lives and, if we sweep the hindrances away, we can work together to make their lives better."@en1
lpv:spokenAs	member; AGRI (2009-07-16--2012-01-18)3 unknown; Scottish National Party (2009-07-14--2014-06-30)3 member; G/EFA (2009-07-14--2014-06-30)3 substitute; Delegation for relations with Switzerland and Norway and to the EU-Iceland Joint Parliamentary Committee and the European Economic Area (EEA) Joint Parliamentary Committee (2009-09-16--2014-06-30)3 substitute; AFCO (2009-07-16--2012-01-18)3 member; Special Committee on the Financial, Economic and Social Crisis (2009-10-08--2011-07-31)3 member; Delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula (2009-09-16--2014-06-30)3 substitute; CULT (2009-07-16--2012-01-18)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"Alyn Smith (Verts/ALE )."1 "communities"1
lpv:videoURI	<go to Events_and_structure europarl>2

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