Strasbourg, 12/04/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament was not able to take a position on the results of the European Council of Lisbon. A joint resolution had been presented by the EPP, the Liberal Group and the Union for a Europe of Nations Group. Three amendments by this last group were rejected, an article of the resolution (supporting the commitment to reduce the taxation charges on labour) was slimly adopted (225 for, 224 against and 48 abstentions) and this small margin was finally reversed during the vote on the overall resolution which, at the end of the day, was rejected by 224 for, 252 against and 18 abstentions. Separate resolutions of the groups were therefore put to the vote with the same fate … There is therefore no resolution by Parliament on the European Council of Lisbon.
The Presidents of the Council Mr. Gama and Commission, Mr. Prodi, tried to present, in a favourable light, to MEPs results of Lisbon.
During the debate, the political groups showed more or less strong support for the results of Lisbon. Ikka Suominen, on behalf of the EPP, expressed his "confidence in the Prodi Commission to translate Lisbon into reality." The PSE also welcome the result of the Lisbon Summit. Other groups, on the initiative of the GUE/NGL, were much more critical. For the Greens, the starting idea "is probably fair", but it was "diluted" due to the national contributions and also those of the Commission, who have not enriched the innovative aspect that the Portuguese reflection could have had."
Even the support for the results of the Lisbon Summit did not have the same meaning for all, which was reflected by the eight resolution proposals. For the EPP, the accent should be placed above all on the private sector: reduction of work taxes, reorientation of public spending, acceleration of the liberalisation of the energy and transports sectors… Robert Goebbles, on behalf of the PSE on the other hand welcomed the new dimension of the Summit, "that relates to the economic and social policy as a whole." He criticised "the ayatollahs of liberalism who do not want a European social model" and so contradict the positions of Nicole Fontaine and governments of all persuasions. The EP "would ridicule itself if it votes the EPP-Liberal resolution," he announced on Tuesday during the debate. On behalf of the Liberals, Anne Jensen underlined that she want not in agreement with the positions expressed by Nicole Fontaine in Lisbon, while approving certain conclusions from Lisbon, notably on "increasing flexibility" and the information technologies.
In answering questions, Jamie Gama called for the debate "not to be excessively ideological." Some years ago "there where only metaphysical oppositions; the Council is now concerned with jobs and modernisation." This call was insufficient to bring the Parliament to overcome the ideological oppositions.