I should like to suggest to the Presidents that the traffic jams in Brussels were the only visible result of the summit. It was clear beforehand that the summit would be divided on Iraq and stalemate would ensue. We were resigned to the Union being confirmed in its role as a political dwarf. To have the so-called economic giant settle for the lowest common denominator in its economic, social and environmental conclusions is, however, cause for despair. The world is threatened by a serious recession that will probably last longer than previously anticipated due to the war in Iraq. Yet we are treated to empty words. The Presidency is not to blame. Nonetheless, it has seen fit to present us with 37 pages of conclusions, containing 12 640 words. I would remind you that Moses managed to write the Ten Commandments in a mere 180 words. The summit must have had one sane moment though. Paragraph 9 of the conclusions reads as follows. ‘Nonetheless, there is still a lot to do. It is time (...) for the Union and the Member States to fulfil their commitments regarding (...) by translating words into action.’ With regard to action, the European Council invited the Commission to consider several problems. Between now and the 2004 spring summit the people of Europe can expect at least 17 new action plans, road maps and other reports. Jumbled up in this Community rag bag are a new employment task force, the stated wish for more concise guidelines on economic policy and for recommendations on economic reforms with strict timetables if appropriate. The Commission was invited to produce a report on tightening up the use of structural indicators. There is to be a plan of action on entrepreneurship and another on simplifying and improving the regulatory framework. Instead of a framework directive on public services, agreed on first at Nice and again at Barcelona, we are to have a Green Paper on the subject. The must-have list even includes a study on the means the European Union could deploy to assist the people of Iraq to live in freedom, dignity and prosperity. Further to the Van Miert report on missing links in trans-European networks following enlargement, the so-called Competitiveness Council was invited to specify the guidelines required in terms of connectivity. No connectivity means fewer exchanges and less growth. Nonetheless, the Council failed to take any decisions to remedy the obvious shortcomings of the infrastructure of an enlarged Europe. In these times of severe budgetary restrictions, the states are happy to deceive themselves that the top of a molehill is a lofty summit with a view far into the distance. As long as the Union is forced to manage on 1% of the Community GDP, it will be reduced to making empty gestures. Mr Poettering is concerned for the euro. I have to say that our single currency is holding up pretty well against the dollar and other international currencies, despite the French and German deficits. If monetary stability really has to be preserved for the public good, then exceptional situations call for courageous measures. The cost of the war and the subsequent cost of the peace will be a heavy burden for the economy of the world. A policy to revive the economy is vital if Europe is to avoid deep recession. Mr President, I wonder why the Commission is delaying application of the flexibility provided by the Amsterdam Council’s resolution for times of recession. I wonder too what it is waiting for to encourage investment pursuant to Rule 11 of the Council Regulations dated that very 7 July 1997. I trust it will not wait for an official statement that our economies are in difficulty before taking action.

Political group: PSE