"No alternative" to Constitutional Treaty, German Economy Minister Michael Glos tells CoR plenary

Mr Glos, addressing the consultative assembly on behalf of the German presidency of the EU, said the wishes of the 18 Member States that had already ratified the charter could not just be 'brushed aside'. He assured the meeting, chaired by Michel DELEBARRE, Mayor of Dunkerque (FR), that Germany would fight to maintain the current text, 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.

'We believe there is no alternative to the Constitutional Treaty. Only that Treaty is going to make Europe more democratic and efficient ... the substance of the Constitutional Treaty is there and we have to build on that substance,' said Mr Glos in response to questions by German members Michael SCHNEIDER, State Secretary of Saxony-Anhalt (EPP) and Karl-Heinz KLÄR, State Secretary of Rhineland-Palatinate (PES), speaking on behalf of their political groups.

The Minister also pledged that Germany, which holds the EU's rotating presidency until July, would not look simply to national governments to find a way forward on the Treaty. 'We need to involve the CoR in our endeavours, as well as the regions themselves and civil society. If Europe is not supported by the regions, it will be difficult for Europe to press ahead,' he commented in reply to Flo CLUCAS, Deputy Mayor of Liverpool (UK, ALDE).

'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),' he added.

Moving on to other areas of the presidency programme, the Minister emphasised that Berlin fully recognised the value of regional policy as a driver for competitiveness and job creation in the context of the Lisbon Strategy. He announced plans for a special event to mark the launch of the new generation of structural funds for 2007-2013, to be held in the Bavarian city of Hof, close to the Czech border, on 9 May, and invited the CoR to participate.

Replying to comments by Jerzy ZAJAKALA, Mayor of Lubianka (PL/UEN-EA), the Minister said he shared the CoR's view that decentralised decision-making was a matter of 'vital importance' for Europe's development.

The Minister also touched on the sensitive issue of postal liberalisation, in response to concerns raised by Finnish member Elina LEHTO, Mayor of Lohja (PES) and the CoR's rapporteur on the postal directive. Mr Glos said he believed liberalisation would result in cost reductions and benefit consumers; however, he also underlined his opposition to allowing state-backed monopolies to operate in other countries that had already opened up to competition.

The other main speaker on the second day of the plenary meeting was EU Transport Commissioner Jacques BARROT, who took part in a debate linked to the CoR's opinion on the m id-term review of the White Paper on European transport policy.

The Commission Vice-President said the support of the Committee, together with the regions and cities it represents, was 'essential' in the development and implementation of EU transport policy.

He appealed to the CoR's members to use their influence in their home countries to urge national governments to sign up to Erika III , a package of directives aimed at beefing up maritime safety standards. 'It is unacceptable that certain Member States are still dragging their feet. We could have another Napoli ,' he warned, in a reference to the UK-registered container ship which was abandoned off the Devon coast on 18 January after suffering serious structure failure.

CoR rapporteur Jan ZAHRADNIK (CZ/EPP) recalled that the motto of the 2001 White Paper had been 'time for decisions'. 'The new watchwords must be time for action', he said, urging the Commission to focus on improving transport infrastructure in the 12 new Member States in particular.

Several members including Bernard SOULAGE, First Vice-President of the Regional Council of Rhône-Alpes (FR/PES), raised concerns about problems associated with liberalisation in the transport sector. 'We need to have an ongoing evaluation of the different phases of liberalisation,' said M. Soulage. 'It must not be at the cost of the weakest.' The Commissioner said he shared the concerns.

José Maria MUÑOA, External Relations Commissioner for the Basque Country (ES/ALDE), warned that there would be no cohesion in Europe if there were huge differences between transport provision in central and outlying regions, and Cathal CROWE, member of Clare County Council (IE/UEN-EA) stressed the need to develop the potential of regional airports.

The Commissioner said he appreciated the importance of transport links for peripheral regions but pointed out that efforts to fund projects was not down to Europe only. 'Member States must be committed too,' he added.


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