Summary: July 20, 2004: Speech by Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, on the election of Parliament's new President - European Parliament (Strasbourg)
FR - DE - IT
President,
Honourable Members,
First, my very sincere congratulations to the President on his election.
His track record vouches for a constructive and productive presidency.
Being president is a big challenge: he will have to guide the work of an institution that will feel the effects of enlargement, the Constitution's approval and major world issues more keenly than the other institutions -- precisely because it is elected directly.
Even more so than in the past, this House is where the debating will take place and the decisions will be made -- and where the citizens' participation in the democratic life of the Union will be assured.
The new President takes over at an exceptional time and this needs stressing.
There is the complexity of the constitutional reform approved just a few weeks ago -- in a close finish and after extra time.
The outcome was by no means a foregone conclusion and I welcome it all the more warmly. This House now has a decisive role to play in the campaign for ratification, which will kick off soon.
Then there is enlargement, another undeniable success of the Union.
Hard negotiations and the fact that all bore the common interest in mind now mean that 25 States can share their hopes for the future.
Lastly, I am disappointed to recall the low turnout amongst voters in the European elections, a showing that is far from reflecting what our fellow citizens expect from the Union.
And as all polls show too, given the huge challenges facing us, people feel a strong Union is more and more necessary. But there is still a need to bring our institutions closer to Europeans in their daily lives.
President,
The Commission and Parliament work closely together -- as they have over the last term -- to see the common interest win out: that is the reason for their alliance, formally expressed in the vote of confidence in the Commission President.
My Commission has done its utmost to develop this close working relationship, in particular thanks to the Framework Agreement and our efforts to apply it day in, day out.
The results of our joint work, for instance in co-decision, are plain.
I am confident this working relationship will continue with the new Commission, which must consolidate and build on what we have achieved over these years.
Together, the Commission and Parliament can give new impetus to the European integration process.
President, just one more word of thanks to the institution I have worked with over the last five years.
Without Parliament's spurring, without its scrutinising eye and without the political debate that takes place here, we could clearly not have got through such a lot of work.
These years have brought significant results and they have been turned into practical benefits for our fellow citizens and into firmer hopes for our future together.
President,
Best wishes to you and the new Parliament in your work!
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