PM Tony Blair's speech to EU Parliament

英语演讲稿

Mr.President,collegues,distinguishedguests:

ItisanhonourtobehereintheEuropeanParliamenttoday.Withyourpermission,IwillcomebackaftereachEuropeanCouncilduringtheUKPresidencyandreporttoyou.Inaddition,IwouldbehappytoconsulttheParliamentbeforeeachCouncil,soastohavethebenefitoftheviewsoftheEuropeanParliamentbeforeCouncildeliberations.

Thisisatimelyaddress.WhateverelsepeopledisagreeuponinEuropetoday,theyatleastagreeononepoint:Europeisinthemidstofaprofounddebateaboutitsfuture.Iwanttotalktoyouplainlytodayaboutthisdebate,thereasonsforitandhowtoresolveit.Ineverycrisisthereisanopportunity.ThereisonehereforEuropenow,ifwehavethecouragetotakeit.

ThedebateoverEuropeshouldnotbeconductedbytradinginsultsorintermsofpersonality.Itshouldbeanopenandfrankexchangeofideas.AndrightattheoutsetIwanttodescribeclearlyhowIdefinethedebateandthedisagreementunderlyingit.

Theissueisnotbetweena"freemarket"EuropeandasocialEurope,betweenthosewhowanttoretreattoacommonmarketandthosewhobelieveinEuropeasapoliticalproject.

Thisisnotjustamisrepresentation.ItistointimidatethosewhowantchangeinEuropebyrepresentingthedesireforchangeasbetrayaloftheEuropeanideal,totrytoshutoffseriousdebateaboutEurope''''sfuturebyclaimingthattheveryinsistenceondebateistoembracetheanti-Europe.

ItisamindsetIhavefoughtagainstallmypoliticallife.Idealssurvivethroughchange.Theydiethroughinertiainthefaceofchallenge.

Iamapassionatepro-European.Ialwayshavebeen.Myfirstvotewasin1975intheBritishreferendumonmembershipandIvotedyes.In1983,whenIwasthelastcandidateintheUKtobeselectedshortlybeforethatelectionandwhenmypartyhadapolicyofwithdrawingfromEurope,ItoldtheselectionconferencethatIdisagreedwiththepolicy.SomethoughtIhadlosttheselection.SomeperhapswishIhad.Ithenhelpedchangeourpolicyinthe1980''''sandwasproudofthatchange.

SincebeingPrimeMinisterIsignedtheSocialChapter,helped,alongwithFrance,tocreatethemodernEuropeanDefencePolicy,haveplayedmypartintheAmsterdam,theNice,thentheRomeTreaties.

Thisisaunionofvalues,ofsolidaritybetweennationsandpeople,ofnotjustacommonmarketinwhichwetradebutacommonpoliticalspaceinwhichweliveascitizens.

Italwayswillbe.

IbelieveinEuropeasapoliticalproject.IbelieveinEuropewithastrongandcaringsocialdimension.IwouldneveracceptaEuropethatwassimplyaneconomicmarket.

Tosaythatistheissueistoescapetherealdebateandhideinthecomfortzoneofthethingswehavealwayssaidtoeachotherintimesofdifficulty.

ThereisnotsomedivisionbetweentheEuropenecessarytosucceedeconomicallyandsocialEurope.PoliticalEuropeandeconomicEuropedonotliveinseparaterooms.

ThepurposeofsocialEuropeandeconomicEuropeshouldbetosustaineachother.

ThepurposeofpoliticalEuropeshouldbetopromotethedemocraticandeffectiveinstitutionstodeveloppolicyinthesetwospheresandacrosstheboardwherewewantandneedtocooperateinourmutualinterest.

Butthepurposeofpoliticalleadershipistogetthepoliciesrightfortoday''''sworld.

For50yearsEurope''''sleadershavedonethat.Wetalkofcrisis.Letusfirsttalkofachievement.Whenthewarended,Europewasinruins.TodaytheEUstandsasamonumenttopoliticalachievement.Almost50yearsofpeace,50yearsofprosperity,50yearsofprogress.Thinkofitandbegrateful.

ThebroadsweepofhistoryisonthesideoftheEU.Countriesroundtheworldarecomingtogetherbecauseincollectivecooperationtheyincreaseindividualstrength.Untilthesecondhalfofthe20thCentury,forcenturiesEuropeannationsindividuallyhaddominatedtheworld,colonisedlargepartsofit,foughtwarsagainsteachotherforworldsupremacy.

OutofthecarnageoftheSecondWorldWar,politicalleadershadthevisiontorealisethosedaysweregone.Today''''sworlddoesnotdiminishthatvision.Itdemonstratesitsprescience.TheUSAistheworld''''sonlysuperpower.ButChinaandIndiainafewdecadeswillbetheworld''''slargesteconomies,eachofthemwithpopulationsthreetimesthatofthewholeoftheEU.TheideaofEurope,unitedandworkingtogether,isessentialforournationstobestrongenoughtokeepourplaceinthisworld.

Now,almost50yearson,wehavetorenew.Thereisnoshameinthat.Allinstitutionsmustdoit.Andwecan.ButonlyifweremarrytheEuropeanidealswebelieveinwiththemodernworldwelivein.

IfEuropedefaultedtoEuroscepticism,orifEuropeannationsfacedwiththisimmensechallenge,decidetohuddletogether,hopingwecanavoidglobalisation,shrinkawayfromconfrontingthechangesaroundus,takerefugeinthepresentpoliciesofEuropeasifbyconstantlyrepeatingthem,wewouldbytheveryactofrepetitionmakethemmorerelevant,thenweriskfailure.Failureonagrand,strategic,scale.ThisisnotatimetoaccusethosewhowantEuropetochangeofbetrayingEurope.ItisatimetorecognisethatonlybychangewillEuroperecoveritsstrength,itsrelevance,itsidealismandthereforeitssupportamongstthepeople.

Andaseverthepeopleareaheadofthepoliticians.Wealwaysthinkasapoliticalclassthatpeople,unconcernedwiththedailyobsessionofpolitics,maynotunderstandit,maynotseeitssubtletiesanditscomplexities.But,ultimately,peoplealwaysseepoliticsmoreclearlythanus.Preciselybecausetheyarenotdailyobsessedwithit.

TheissueisnotabouttheideaoftheEuropeanUnion.Itisaboutmodernisation.Itisaboutpolicy.ItisnotadebateabouthowtoabandonEuropebuthowtomakeitdowhatitwassetuptodo:improvethelivesofpeople.Andrightnow,theyaren''''tconvinced.Considerthis.

ForfouryearsEuropeconductedadebateoverournewConstitution,twoyearsofitintheConvention.ItwasadetailedandcarefulpieceofworksettingoutthenewrulestogovernaEuropeof25andintime27,28andmorememberstates.ItwasendorsedbyallGovernments.Itwassupportedbyallleaders.ItwasthencomprehensivelyrejectedinreferendumsintwofoundingMemberStates,inthecaseoftheNetherlandsbyover60percent.TherealityisthatinmostMemberStatesitwouldbehardtodaytosecurea''''yes''''foritinareferendum.

Therearetwopossibleexplanations.OneisthatpeoplestudiedtheConstitutionanddisagreedwithitsprecisearticles.Idoubtthatwasthebasisofthemajority''''no''''.Thiswasnotanissueofbaddraftingorspecifictextualdisagreement.

TheotherexplanationisthattheConstitutionbecamemerelythevehicleforthepeopletoregisterawideranddeeperdiscontentwiththestateofaffairsinEurope.Ibelievethistobethecorrectanalysis.

Ifso,itisnotacrisisofpoliticalinstitutions,itisacrisisofpoliticalleadership.PeopleinEuropeareposinghardquestionstous.Theyworryaboutglobalisation,jobsecurity,aboutpensionsandlivingstandards.Theyseenotjusttheireconomybuttheirsocietychangingaroundthem.Traditionalcommunitiesarebrokenup,ethnicpatternschange,familylifeisunderstrainasfamiliesstruggletobalanceworkandhome.

Wearelivingthroughaneraofprofoundupheavalandchange.Lookatourchildrenandthetechnologytheyuseandthejobsmarkettheyface.Theworldisunrecognisablefromthatweexperiencedasstudents20,30yearsago.Whensuchchangeoccurs,moderatepeoplemustgiveleadership.Iftheydon''''t,theextremesgaintractiononthepoliticalprocess.Ithappenswithinanation.ItishappeninginEuropenow.

Justreflect.TheLaekenDeclarationwhichlaunchedtheConstitutionwasdesigned"tobringEuropeclosertothepeople".Didit?TheLisbonagendawaslaunchedintheyear2000withtheambitionofmakingEurope"themostcompetitiveplacetodobusinessintheworldby2010".Wearehalfwaythroughthatperiod.Hasitsucceeded?

IhavesatthroughCouncilConclusionsafterCouncilConclusionsdescribinghowweare"reconnectingEuropetothepeople".Arewe?

Itistimetogiveourselvesarealitycheck.Toreceivethewake-upcall.Thepeopleareblowingthetrumpetsroundthecitywalls.Arewelistening?Havewethepoliticalwilltogooutandmeetthemsothattheyregardourleadershipaspartofthesolutionnottheproblem?

ThatisthecontextinwhichtheBudgetdebateshouldbeset.Peoplesay:weneedtheBudgettorestoreEurope''''scredibility.Ofcoursewedo.ButitshouldbetherightBudget.Itshouldn''''tbeabstractedfromthedebateaboutEurope''''scrisis.Itshouldbepartoftheanswertoit.

IwanttosayawordaboutlastFriday''''sSummit.TherehavebeensuggestionsthatIwasnotwillingtocompromiseontheUKrebate;thatIonlyraisedCAPreformatthelastminute;thatIexpectedtorenegotiatetheCAPonFridaynight.InfactIamtheonlyBritishleaderthathaseversaidIwouldputtherebateonthetable.IneversaidweshouldendtheCAPnoworrenegotiateitovernight.Suchapositionwouldbeabsurd.Anychangemusttakeaccountofthelegitimateneedsoffarmingcommunitiesandhappenovertime.Ihavesaidsimplytwothings:thatwecannotagreeanewfinancialperspectivethatdoesnotatleastsetoutaprocessthatleadstoamorerationalBudget;andthatthismustallowsuchaBudgettoshapethesecondhalfofthatperspectiveupto2013.Otherwiseitwillbe2014beforeanyfundamentalchangeisagreed,letaloneimplemented.Again,inthemeantime,ofcourseBritainwillpayitsfairshareofenlargement.ImightpointoutthatonanybasiswewouldremainthesecondhighestnetcontributortotheEU,havinginthisperspectivepaidbillionsmorethansimilarsizedcountries.

So,thatisthecontext.WhatwouldadifferentpolicyagendaforEuropelooklike?

First,itwouldmoderniseoursocialmodel.AgainsomehavesuggestedIwanttoabandonEurope''''ssocialmodel.Buttellme:whattypeofsocialmodelisitthathas20munemployedinEurope,productivityratesfallingbehindthoseoftheUSA;thatisallowingmoresciencegraduatestobeproducedbyIndiathanbyEurope;andthat,onanyrelativeindexofamoderneconomy-skills,R&D,patents,IT,isgoingdownnotup.Indiawillexpanditsbiotechnologysectorfivefoldinthenextfiveyears.ChinahastrebleditsspendingonR&Dinthelastfive.

Ofthetop20universitiesintheworldtoday,onlytwoarenowinEurope.

Thepurposeofoursocialmodelshouldbetoenhanceourabilitytocompete,tohelpourpeoplecopewithglobalisation,toletthemembraceitsopportunitiesandavoiditsdangers.OfcourseweneedasocialEurope.ButitmustbeasocialEuropethatworks.

Andwe''''vebeentoldhowtodoit.TheKokreportin2004showstheway.Investmentinknowledge,inskills,inactivelabourmarketpolicies,inscienceparksandinnovation,inhighereducation,inurbanregeneration,inhelpforsmallbusinesses.Thisismodernsocialpolicy,notregulationandjobprotectionthatmaysavesomejobsforatimeattheexpenseofmanyjobsinthefuture.

Andsincethisisadayfordemolishingcaricatures,letmedemolishoneother:theideathatBritainisinthegripofsomeextremeAnglo-Saxonmarketphilosophythattramplesonthepooranddisadvantaged.ThepresentBritishGovernmenthasintroducedthenewdealfortheunemployed,thelargestjobsprogrammeinEuropethathasseenlong-termyouthunemploymentvirtuallyabolished.IthasincreasedinvestmentinourpublicservicesmorethananyotherEuropeancountryinthepastfiveyears.Weneededto,itistrue,butwedidit.WehaveintroducedBritain''''sfirstminimumwage.Wehaveregeneratedourcities.Wehaveliftedalmostonemillionchildrenoutofpovertyandtwomillionpensionersoutofacutehardshipandareembarkedonthemostradicalexpansionofchildcare,maternityandpaternityrightsinourcountry''''shistory.Itisjustthatwehavedoneitonthebasisofandnotattheexpenseofastrongeconomy.

Secondly,lettheBudgetreflecttheserealities.AgaintheSapirreportshowstheway.PublishedbytheEuropeanCommissionin2003,itsetsoutincleardetailwhatamodernEuropeanBudgetwouldlooklike.Putitintopractice.ButamodernBudgetforEuropeisnotonethat10yearsfromnowisstillspending40percentofitsmoneyontheCAP.

Thirdly,implementtheLisbonAgenda.Onjobs,labourmarketparticipation,schoolleavers,lifelonglearning,wearemakingprogressthatnowherenearmatchestheprecisetargetswesetoutatLisbon.ThatAgendatolduswhattodo.Letusdoit.

Fourth,andhereItreadcarefully,getamacroeconomicframeworkforEuropethatisdisciplinedbutalsoflexible.ItisnotformetocommentontheEurozone.Ijustsaythis:ifweagreedrealprogressoneconomicreform,ifwedemonstratedrealseriousnessonstructuralchange,thenpeoplewouldperceivereformofmacropolicyassensibleandrational,notaproductoffiscallaxitybutofcommonsense.AndweneedsuchreformurgentlyifEuropeistogrow.

Aftertheeconomicandsocialchallenges,thenletusconfrontanothersetoflinkedissues-crime,securityandimmigration.

anisedcrimecoststheUKatleast￡20bnannually.

Migrationhasdoubledinthepast20years.Muchofthemigrationishealthyandwelcome.Butitmusthemanaged.Illegalimmigrationisanissueforallournations,andahumantragedyformanythousandsofpeople.Itisestimatedthat70percentofillegalimmigrantshavetheirpassagefacilitatedbyorganisedcrimegroups.Thenthereistherepugnantpracticeofhumantraffickingwherebyorganisedgangsmovepeoplefromoneregiontoanotherwiththeintentionofexploitingthemwhentheyarrive.Between600,000and800,000peoplearetraffickedgloballyeachyear.Everyyearover100,000womenarevictimsoftraffickingintheEuropeanUnion.

Again,arelevantJHAagen公务员之家版权所有dawouldfocusontheseissues:implementingtheEUactionplanoncounter-terrorismwhichhashugepotentialtoimprovelawenforcementaswellasaddressingtheradicalisationandrecruitmentofterrorists;cross-borderintelligenceandpolicingonorganisedcrime;developingproposalstohitthepeopleanddrugtraffickershard,inopeninguptheirbankaccounts,harassingtheiractivities,arrestingtheirleadingmembersandbringthemtojustice;gettingreturnsagreementsforfailedasylumseekersandillegalimmigrantsfromneighbouringcountriesandothers;developingbiometrictechnologytomakeEurope''''sborderssecure.

ThenthereisthewholeareaofCFSP.WeshouldbeagreeingpracticalmeasurestoenhanceEuropeandefencecapability,bepreparedtotakeonmoremissionsofpeacekeepingandenforcement,developthecapability,withNATOorwhereNATOdoesnotwanttobeengagedoutsideit,tobeabletointervenequicklyandeffectivelyinsupportofconflictresolution.LookatthenumbersinEuropeanarmiestodayandourexpenditure.Dotheyreallyanswerthestrategicneedsoftoday?

Suchadefencepolicyisanecessarypartofaneffectiveforeignpolicy.Butevenwithoutit,weshouldbeseeinghowwecanmakeEurope''''sinfluencecount.WhentheEuropeanUnionagreedrecentlyadoublingofaidtoAfrica,itwasanimmediateboostnotjustforthattroubledcontinent,butforEuropeancooperation.Weareworldleadersindevelopmentandproudofit.Weshouldbeleadingthethewayonpromotinganewmulti-lateraltradeagreementwhichwillincreasetradeforall,especiallythepoorestnations.Weareleadingthedebateonclimatechangeanddevelopingpan-Europeanpoliciestotackleit.ThankstoXavierSolana,EuropehasstartedtomakeitspresencefeltintheMEPP.Butmypointisverysimple.AstrongEuropewouldbeanactiveplayerinforeignpolicy,agoodpartnerofcoursetotheUSbutalsocapableofdemonstratingitsowncapacitytoshapeandmovetheworldforward.

SuchaEurope-itseconomyintheprocessofbeingmodernised,itssecurityenhancedbyclearactionwithinourbordersandbeyond-wouldbeaconfidentEurope.ItwouldbeaEuropeconfidentenoughtoseeenlargementnotasathreat,asifmembershipwereazerosumgameinwhicholdmembersloseasnewmembersgain,butanextraordinary,historicopportunitytobuildagreaterandmorepowerfulunion.Becausebeundernoillusion:ifwestopenlargementorshutoutitsnaturalconsequences,itwouldn''''t,intheend,saveonejob,keeponefirminbusiness,preventonedelocalisation.Foratimeitmightbutnotforlong.AndinthemeantimeEuropewillbecomemorenarrow,moreintrospectiveandthosewhogarnersupportwillbethosenointhetraditionsofEuropeanidealismbutinthoseofoutdatednationalismandxenophobia.ButItellyouinallfrankness:itisacontradictiontobeinfavourofliberalisingEurope''''smembershipbutagainstopeningupitseconomy.

Ifwesetoutthatcleardirection;ifwethencombineditwiththeCommission-asthisoneunderJoseManuelBarroso''''sleadershipisfullycapableofdoing-thatispreparedtosendbacksomeoftheunnecessaryregulation,peelbacksomeofthebureaucracyandbecomeachampionofaglobal,outward-looking,competitiveEurope,thenitwillnotbehardtocapturetheimaginationandsupportofthepeopleofEurope.

InourPresidency,wewilltrytotakeforwardtheBudgetdeal;toresolvesomeoftheharddossiers,liketheServicesDirectiveandWorkingTimeDirective;tocarryouttheUnion''''sobligationstothoselikeTurkeyandCroatiathatwaitinhopeofafutureaspartofEurope;andtoconductthisdebateaboutthefutureofEuropeinanopen,inclusiveway,givingourownviewsstronglybutfullyrespectfuloftheviewsofothers.

OnlyonethingIask:don''''tletuskidourselvesthatthisdebateisunnecessary;thatifonlyweassume''''businessasusual'''',peoplewillsoonerorlaterrelentandacquiesceinEuropeasitis,notastheywantittobe.InmytimeasPrimeMinister,Ihavefoundthatthehardpartisnottakingthedecision,itisspottingwhenithastobetaken.Itisunderstandingthedifferencebetweenthechallengesthathavetobemanagedandthosethathavetobeconfrontedandovercome.ThisissuchamomentofdecisionforEurope.

ThepeopleofEuro公务员之家版权所有pearespeakingtous.Theyareposingthequestions.Theyarewantingourleadership.Itistimewegaveittothem.