European Parliament
Maaten (ELDR ).
(NL)
I barely have the courage to say this, but we agreed in 2000 to be the world's most competitive, knowledge-based economy by 2010. After so many debates and so little progress, it seems to have turned into a bad joke. This report by the Council demonstrates once again that we need to cut back on the administrative burden for industry. Nobody will have a problem agreeing with this on paper, but do we really realise what this involves in practice? In the Netherlands, the Finance Minister, Gerrit Jan Zalm, set up a website entitled,
www.administratievelasten.nl
, which enables businesses to specify on there exactly what is hindering them in their business activities. I call on you, Mr President-in-Office of the Council, to do the same in the European Union. We must give victims the chance to speak out. Only if we have a serious overview of administrative burdens, can we set to work. Hence, www.stopeuropeanoverregulation.eu!
I should like to finish off by saying, Mr President, that from your previous visit to this Parliament, I gather that you like a joke, and I therefore assume that your promises to the Ukraine about EU membership are an expression of your original sense of humour. Surely we should first make a success of the current enlargement, and only then can we think about making new promises.

