Brussels, 19/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - Speaking at the Committee of the Regions on 14 February during a plenary session in Brussels chaired by Michel Delebarre, Germany's Economy Minister Michael Glos said “we believe there is no alternative to the constitutional treaty. Only that treaty is going to make Europe more democratic and efficient”. Faced with the challenge of re-launching the constitutional treaty, the minister said: “It will be a success if, by the end of our presidency, we have been able to work out a roadmap” for the constitutional process. But, he warned, it is necessary to await the results of the French elections before carrying out indepth discussion on this. France, he recalled, had said “no” to the draft constitutional treaty. Michael Glos takes the view that the treaty will strengthen the role of the regions and municipalities. The minister went on to reassure Michael Delebarre that Germany will fight to keep the current text of the Constitution which includes “explicit recognition of local and regional self-government as well as a new right for the CoR to challenge laws which breach subsidiarity”. It is necessary to find a sustainable solution to this subject, said the minister, adding: “Hence our watchword: Europe - succeeding together”.
After taking a brief look at the priorities of the German EU presidency (a programme for which it has received the “unreserved” support of political forces present, as reported in ample detail in EUROPE), Michael Glos showed the extent to which his country was attached to the regions. “The best programme of our presidency cannot be a success unless those who are responsible for implementing it are consulted: the local and regional representatives. The role of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) is particularly appreciated in Germany: which is why the German EU presidency is to make a careful and detailed examination of all Committee opinions”, the minister said. “The development of disadvantaged regions and the adjustment of regions to negative development remains the key challenge facing European regional policy”, Michael Glos stressed, adding that “cohesion policy must contribute to greater growth and jobs”. To allow citizens to get a better grasp of these things, the presidency will be organising a congress to mark the launching of the new generation of Structural Funds 2007-2013. This congress will take place on 9 May 2007 in Hof (Bavaria), near the border of the Czech Republic. Michael Glos, who invited the Committee of the Regions to attend, concluded his speech saying that it is only by working together on Europe that we shall succeed. He called on the members of the Committee of the Regions to act as an interface with citizens.
During the exchange of views that followed his speech, Michael Glos said:
(1) The White Paper on Services of General Interest (SGI): Answering CoR President Michel Delebarre, who asked him how the German EU presidency would follow this up as “it is only right that we should know our position on this”, the minister said: “The White Paper on SGI must be taken seriously. One must avoid absolute centralisation and we want to move forward carefully on this dossier with the Committee of the Regions”.
(2) The Constitutional Treaty: a) Addressing Michael Schneider (Secretary of State for Lower Saxony, Germany, EPP), Michael Glos gave his assurance that Germany would continue to commit itself to the Treaty by taking into account the regions and the need to strengthen their role. Pointing out that it has often been said the German presidency wishes to strengthen public feeling about Europe and give rise to “new europhilia”, Michael Glos said: “Yes, I believe we must act at the base, that is at regional and local level. That is the only way to give citizens the feeling they are dealing with politicians that are not too remote from them”; b) Further to a reflection made by Karl-Heinz Klär (Secretary of State for Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, PES) who said “such a presidency brings a breath of fresh air to national civil service offices whose windows are finally opening up to look at Europe as a whole, and not just at the Eiffel Tower, etc.”. the minister said he understood it was also necessary to heighten the awareness of officials towards Europe; c) Addressing Flo Clucas (Deputy Mayor of Liverpool, UK, ALDE) who requested that not only the CoR but also the European Commission should have the possibility to be part of negotiations on the treaty, the minister gave a positive response: “Yes, regions, like the Commission, will be involved as will the civil society as a whole”.
(3) Regional aspects: Addressing Jerzy Zakala (Mayor of Lubianka, Poland, UEN-EA), Michael Glos said Germany shares the views of the CoR, namely that a decentralised decision-making process is of vital importance for the development of Europe.
(4) Postal Services: To the rapporteur on the postal services directive, Elina Lehto (Mayor of Lohja, Finland, PES), Glos said he was convinced that liberalising these services would bring about a reduction in costs that will first and foremost benefit consumers. (gb)