PM-Tony-Blair's-speech-to-EU-Parliament.docx

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"themostcompetitiveplacetodobusinessintheworldby20XX".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;andthatthismustallowsuchaBudgettoshapethesecondhalfofthatperspectiveupto20XX.Otherwiseitwillbe20XXbeforeanyfundamentalchangeisagreed,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.TheKokreportin20XXshowstheway.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.PublishedbytheEuropeanCommissionin20XX,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.Between600,000and800,000peoplearetraffickedgloballyeachyearEveryyearover100,000womenarevictimsoftraffickingintheEuropeanUnion.
　　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.
　　In