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Future of Europe:Time to prepare
May 16, 2006 12:55 PM
Speaking at a plenary debate in the European Parliament this morning on behalf of the ALDE group, Marielle de Sarnez (UDF, France), ALDE Vice-President, regretted the timidity of the European Commission in its recent communication on the outcome of the period of reflection and future prospects:
"At the political level, the "Europe of results" lacks any ambition. I would have preferred to hear you plea for new common policies indispensable for Europe's future," she declared.
More serious still according to Mme. de Sarnez is the absence of any institutional proposal. "On this fundamental question for the future of our institutions and of our democracy you have been content to note that there is presently no consensus between Member States. The role of the Commission is not to 'take note' but to make proposals," she underlined.
"We must end our fantasies about the Constitution. Even if the ratification process continues in a symbolic manner, we all know that it will not be this precise text which will emerge at the end of the day. We will have to re-write a new, shorter, simpler and more readable text focused on the broad principles which are the foundation of the Union."
"If we wish to be able to ratify a political project of this nature on the same day as the next European elections in all Member States, then we have to start to prepare ourselves now," she concluded.
The same analysis was made by other ALDE speakers:
Sarah Ludford (UK, Lib Dem): "What we have learned from the referendums is that people see the EU as part of the threat of globalisation and not as a safe haven from its cold winds".
Alexander Lambsdorff (FDP, Germany): "What is worse than a "non", is a "non" that is not taken seriously. It is clear to me that we cannot present the same text twice."
Cecilia Malmström (FP, Sweden): "It is time that the Commission opened its eyes and realised what is expected of it."
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