PM Tony Blair's speech to EU Parliament
时间:2022-03-14 09:53:00
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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.