(14/06/06) Europese Top: geen blabla, maar boemboem!

• 2006-06-14

De Europese Groene fractie zit niet te wachten op een verlenging van de reflectieperiode over de toekomst van Europa na het Franse en Nederlandse 'Neen'. Natuurlijk, het voorstel tot Grondwet moet worden aangepast en de steun van de Europees Commissievoorzitter Barroso is daarbij zeer welgekomen. Hoewel een vernieuwd engagement in maart van volgende jaar in Rome symbolisch erg goed is, mag het niet bij verklaringen blijven. Er moeten concrete voorstellen zijn. Totnogtoe doen Raad en Parlement er evenwel het zwijgen toe.

De herziening van de Europese strategie inzake Duurzame Ontwikkeling - ook geagendeerd op de top van 15 en 16 juni a.s. - mist ook al concrete voorstellen. Maatregelen tegen de klimaatwijziging, voor milieuvriendelijk transport en voor het behoud van de biodiversiteit vragen een ecologische aanwending van het EU-budget. De Commissie heeft evenwel te weinig moed en zet eerder stappen achteruit.

De Top moet, kortom, moet er een zijn van minder blabla en meer boemboem.

European Summit

EU leaders must not merely prolong procrastination on the reflection period

Speaking at the debate on the European Summit and the period of reflection in the European Parliament today, Monica Frassoni , Co-President of the Greens/EFA group, said:

"Tomorrow's Summit must draw concrete conclusions on how the 'reflection period' should progress and what it should lead to, instead of simply deciding to prolong the procrastination. It is clear that there will need to be some changes to the proposed Constitution if European citizens are to support it, especially in France and the Netherlands. We welcome the expression of full support for the Constitution made by Commission President Barroso in the EP plenary today. This is a remarkable turnaround from his non-committal stance this time last year and we hope he will not change his mind again. President Barroso must champion the Constitution at tomorrow's European Council.

"We welcome the idea to renew commitment to the European project in a solemn declaration on the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome in March 2007. However, well-meaning declarations alone will not suffice: we need concrete proposals on how to progress the constitutional process but unfortunately, until now, both the European Parliament and the Member States have chosen to be silent on this. The anniversary should be used to launch a clear roadmap for the constitutional process, with the European Parliament involved in its preparation.

"The review of the EU's Sustainable Development Strategy, which will also feature at the Summit, has few practical proposals. We need stronger measures for the fight against climate change, for environment-friendly transport and for the protection of biodiversity; this includes a better ecological use of EU funds. Unfortunately, the Commission is rolling back policy in many key areas, such as air pollution, waste and transport. Impact assessments - the latest fashion in the Commission - should pay much more attention to the environment and not be solely focused on business interests, as is currently the case. Tomorrow's Summit should take a step towards bridging the wide gap between rhetoric and action."