Mr President, I share the rapporteur’s concerns regarding the fact that we are debating a report of this type at such a late hour on a Friday, especially given the importance we attach to the application of Community law. The figures given by the rapporteur have only compounded our concerns as they are a clear reflection of Member States’ failure to apply Community law and this report actually incorporates proposals that would force them to do so. The fact that 1101 letters of formal notice, 675 reasoned opinions and 123 referrals have been presented to the Court of Justice clearly highlight the difficulties inherent in applying European Community law. I intend to chiefly focus on the proposal put forward by the Committee on Petitions that incorporates amendments signed by all of the groups in the committee. I should also like to point out, as a result of those gremlins which sometimes appear in this House, that the Committee on Petitions’ conclusions were not incorporated in the rapporteur’s report. I have the distinct impression that the Committee on Petitions is considered the poor sister of Parliament and, in fact, at the end of the previous legislature its very future was in doubt. However, it is in my view one of the most important committees in Parliament, as it has direct and clearly defined relations with the citizens of Europe and the ability to deal with issues, such as concerns for the environment. The rapporteur points out that more than 25% of the petitions lodged concern environmental problems, freedom of movement, fundamental freedoms and the internal market, issues that, in my view, are central to the European Constitution. What is more, in view of the rising number of incoming petitions every year they also highlight citizens’ desire to see Community law complied with. At times it appears that citizens’ groups, residents’ associations and other types of association show greater concern with regard to the application of Community law than the national public authorities themselves. This is particularly true of environmental issues, something I have personal experience of as a member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection. Proof of this lies in the petitions we handle on a daily basis in the Committee on Petitions. This is why I urge you to approve the two amendments tabled by the Committee on Petitions that are no more and no less than a clear reflection of the Committee on Petitions’ concern regarding the procedures used for handling citizens’ complaints. There are considerable delays – often one, two or even three years – between the Committee on Petitions’ or the European Commission’s final decision on a matter following the initial complaint. The amendments tabled call for procedures to be simplified, as failure to do so would seriously undermine citizens’ confidence in the effectiveness of the European institutions. Among other things, the amendments call for a certain degree of harmonisation in European administrative law so that all citizens of the Union receive equal treatment. Much more could be said, Mr President, about the nature and importance of the Committee on Petitions, but as time is short, I would simply urge members to agree to vote in favour of these amendments today, as they represent the opinion of the Committee on Petitions.

Political group: GUE-NGL