A central role” “

A Parliament that intervenes in all fields, ridding itself of any “inferiority complex” towards the other EU institutions and making its own voice heard on the most varied issues: from the vote on the Commission to the decisions taken by the Council, from the economy to social issues and foreign policy. The impression that emerges after the plenary session in Strasbourg of 15-18 November is moving in this direction, though without ignoring the fact that the Assembly is far from expressing itself in unison: the different positions among the various political groups in the EP ensure that the debate in the Strasbourg debating chamber always has surprises in store. NEW Commission: “acting in favour of citizens”. “Let us pull up our sleeves and get to work”: with these words José Manuel Durao Barroso, President elect of the European Commission, concluded his “investiture” speech before the EP on Wednesday 17 November. On the following day, Thursday, Parliament gave him a vote of confidence (… MEPs in favour, … against, … abstained). The new Executive takes the place of the Commission led for five years by the Italian Romano Prodi and will remain in office till 2009. During his address in Strasbourg, Barroso insisted “on the need for close collaboration between the EU institutions”. “We must form a partnership – he explained – for a prosperous, peaceful and secure Europe. We need to pursue objectives that make a difference in the daily life of citizens: we need to choose the path of innovation, training and education; a strong economy is needed: it is the essential condition for greater social cohesion and to defend the environment”. A wide-ranging debate followed. The majority of MEPs welcomed the changes made by Barroso to his team (replacement of three designated Commissioners), after the postponement of the vote at the end of October; but some perplexities were expressed about the fact that the Dutch Neelie Kroes remains in charge of the sector of competition (conflict of interests). CompetitivENESS, coHESION AND CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. The Parliament also expressed its views on various other questions. After having heard the report presented by Dutch premier Jan Peter Balkenende, current President of the European Council, the chamber adopted a resolution on the conclusions of the summit in Brussels on 4-5 November. Confirming their support for the Lisbon Strategy, whose aim is to increase economic competitiveness and social cohesion within the EU, MEPs expressed “strong perplexities” about the little progress so far made in this direction; the finger was pointed at the “lack of commitment by member states”. The EP therefore asks for “greater investments in human resources, research and innovation, to stimulate growth and employment, without compromising the stability and sustainability of the public finances”. With regard to the “Space of liberty, security and justice” (pursued through the so-called Programme of The Hague), “the urgent need to reduce clandestine immigration” is stressed; this should be achieved through “a coherent and organic European policy on asylum and immigration”. Many foreign policy issues were also debated in the chamber: as far as Iraq is concerned, concern remains great about the security situation and the possibility of holding elections early next year. A clear position emerged on the situation in Cuba and in China: in the first case the “immediate release of all political prisoners” was requested; the EP also re-affirmed its opposition to the revocation of the arms embargo on China. Lastly, 259 million euros were allocated in favour of the Turkish Cypriot community, to “promote economic and social development”. CLOSE RELATIONS BETWEEN EUROPE AND THE AFRICAN CONTINENT. “We Africans hope for the full success of the process of European integration. The more united, peaceful and developed your continent is, the greater shall be its peacemaking role in the world”. Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa, intervened during the parliamentary session, and recalled the many problems that are afflicting Africa: “You know about and support the project of the African Union, which is taking its first steps – said the South African leader, guest of honour of the Assembly, who filled the post of Vice-President under Nelson Mandela -. It’s a new Africa, which is trying to tackle the great social and economic emergencies that are afflicting our peoples. We must put an end to the obscene reality of poverty and famine; and also gain a better understanding of the question of emigration, which leads our fellow-citizens to the shores of Europe”. For all this, Mbeki insisted on the need to “build democratic political systems respectful of persons”; at the same time he explained the efforts being made to overcome the regional conflicts that are still numerous in Africa, citing, among others, the cases of Ivory Coast and Darfur. “We intend to take in hand our destiny and we expect attention and support by the EU, which is for us a political and institutional model to imitate”. The European Ombudsman European citizens are increasingly exercising their right to appeal to the European Ombudsman. This is shown by the unprecedented 54% increase in complaints presented during the first ten months of 2004 in comparison with the same period of 2003. “I am confident that the growth of complaints reflects the growing awareness that citizens have of their own rights and not any deterioration of the operation of the Union’s institutions” said the Ombudsman P. Nikiforos Diamandouros. In the conviction, however, that improvement is always possible, the Ombudsman raised some questions during the debate on his annual Report for 2003 in the session of the European Parliament held in Strasbourg on 18 November. They focused especially on: Greater trasparency: “We should not underestimate the importance of transparency to earn citizens’ trust,” says the Ombudsman. The De Rossa Report rightly expresses concern on this point, referring to the fact that the lack or rejection of information still represents the object of most admissible complaints presented to the Ombudsman. “It is for this reason that, in response to the complaint presented by an MEP, only last week I requested the Council of the European Union to reconsider its refusal to meet in public session whenever it is a question of acting in the role of legislator. The Constitution for Europe prescribes that the Council should meet publicly to examine and vote on legislative proposals. Since the Constitution has already been signed by all member states, citizens ought not to wait for its entry into force to benefit from this fundamental step forward in terms of openness. I am firmly convinced that deliberating behind closed doors – on questions that affect the daily life of us citizens – is a position we can no longer defend,” said the Ombudsman. Good administrative conduct: The European Code of Good Administrative Conduct, approved by the European Parliament in 2001, has not yet been fully applied by all EU institutions and organizations. “I am concerned that the current existence of many different codes of practice, whose contents overlap with each other, makes it difficult for citizens to understand their own rights” says the Ombudsman. “I expect the new Commission about to take up office to support the pledges made by its predecessors and promptly begin work on a European administrative law, whose legal foundations rest in the Constitution”.