Brussels, 01/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Council of Nice is the most important summit since Maastricht, as its participants are "the leaders who have the privilege" of creating the possibility of unifying the whole of Europe. France believes "it is a question of carpe diem; they must seize this moment", Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament's Liberal Group, told several journalists. For this reason, the "Prodi challenge" (to the French Presidency: see yesterday's EUROPE, p.4) was "brilliant", a "wonderful piece of political surgery", said Mr Cox, who encouraged the EU leaders not to allow national egoism to dictate their behaviour, and not to lose sight of "the big picture".
To this backdrop, Pat Cox states his agreement with Mr Prodi also on the double majority in Council, a "relatively uncomplicated and highly democratic" system. Regarding the Commission, if one decides for a deferred ceiling, Mr Cox prefers this to be envisaged once the EU has reached 27 members, and not just 25, so that Bulgaria and Romania are not kept apart from the "Helsinki twelve". Regarding extension of qualified majority, he specified: - commercial policy. Yes to qualified majority, but with "checks and balances", namely assent of the European Parliament. Mr Cox understands the fears expressed by France for the cultural aspect, but believes that an "astute" negotiator like Pascal Lamy would bear this in mind, even if this is not included in the Treaty; - taxation. Unanimity must be kept for corporate taxation and income tax. (I do not say this because I am Irish, said Mr Cox, recalling that the Taoiseach is against qualified majority voting in this field), but "a certain degree of progress" is needed elsewhere, mainly in indirect taxation; - asylum and immigration. This is both an extremely sensitive area in terms of sovereignty and which "cries out for" a more collective vision; - social policy. Yes to qualified majority if one means by this the "Diamantopoulou Paper" (good practices, etc.), but not on aspects of this policy determined by cultural particularities and traditions that differ greatly from one State to the next.
European Parliament Plenary Session