PROGRAMMA OF ACTIVITIES OF THE GERMAN PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL

by Altiero Spinelli

SUMMARY: The Parliament examines the usual list of promises contained in the half yearly programme of the Presidency of the Council, an office held by the German Government from I January to 30 June 1983.

As is well known, during this half year and at the Council meeting at Stuttgart (June 1983) the Governments of the Community adopt the "solemn declaration on European Union". In "Speeches in European Parliament, 1976-1986", Pier Virgilio Dastoli editor. (EP, 11 January 1983)

Mr President, there is something disappointing, indeed almost disembodied, in this twice-yearly ritual according to which the new President of the Council gives us a catalogue of his aspirations. We know perfectly well that his powers are strictly limited and that he cannot guarantee the attainment of any of the objectives which he lists to us. We also understand the particular difficulty experienced by the German Government in assuming this responsibility at a time when the fact of being one of the most influencial members of the Council is compensated by the imminent prospect of an election whose outcome is most uncertain.

Alongside all these negative elements, we must put on record the fact that Mr Genscher is a well-known European, a committed European, a European who has for a long time borne responsibility for the external policy of the Federal German Republic and is familiar with the dramas of this Community; sometimes, over the years, he has had his own vision of the future of Europe and he is now speaking to us at a time which marks a turning point in his own political life. He might have spoken to us with some detachment, drawing on his deepest thoughts instead of on the files of his permanent representation and of the Council secretariat. The disappointment engendered by his speech is greater than that which we usually feel on similar occasions.

Speaking on behalf of the Italian Communist and Allied Members I shall confine my attention to a few aspects because I do not have time to express our own views at greater length.

On the subject of cooperation Mr Genscher drew our attention to the serious problems posed for us by the developing countries and he touched on the problem of their debt levels. What did he propose? To consolidate, reduce or cancel those debts? These are the real decisions which will shortly have to underly our policy towards the third world. He spoke also of the commitment which Europe must assume if it to stop the process of progress towards peace from being halted and if we are to exploit every opportunity of progress towards detente and make a determined effort to stop the arms race. He did not say a single word about the heavy pressure exerted day by day on all our countries in the west and east alike, to undermine the fragile and uncertain agreement which has been established between our countries; nor did he say a word about the need to strengthen this union of political wills including measures of political cooperation. Mr Genscher spoke to us of the fight against unemployment as a first priority but

all he proposed was an increase in expenditure on professional training and support on a scale which he did not define for small and mediumsized undertakings. That really is very little, Mr Genscher, as a response to so serious a problem.

You spoke too, Mr Genscher, of the development of our internal market as a second priority, but you failed to point out that if our internal frontiers are the scene of many abuses these are due primarily to the fact that VAT rates still vary widely from one country to another and nothing has yet been done to harmonize them. You devoted only four lines to the need to embark at long last on a common transport policy. Are you aware, Mr Genscher, of the resolution adopted by the European Parliament which is proposing to take action in the Court of Justice against the Council of Ministers because of its failure to discharge the responsibilities vested in it by the Treaty in this area?

You spoke as your third priority of enlargement, but nothing in your speech indicated whether the Council was about to reach a conclusion or not.

I shall not now dwell on the long list of stages which would have to be crossed if we are to make progress with the common policies; in most cases the measures would be desirable but the Council's ability to reach decisions remains the great unknown. Mr Genscher, you well know that in this situation we cannot make progress with the institutional system which our peoples set up 25 or 30 years ago; you have repeated this yourself on a number of occasions. You well know that the Genscher-Colombo plan is making little progress if it has not already been shunted onto a siding. You well know that this Parliament intends to propose to the governments and parliaments of our Member States a draft treaty establishing at long last a union whose attainment is provided for in the original Treaties and advocated in countless declarations; but you did not say a single word about this.

Mr Genscher, we expected more of you today than this set of vague words and intentional or embarrassed silence. You will not be surprised to see that we did not applaud you.