J. whereas the Malian crisis is manifold and cannot be reduced to an ethnic conflict; whereas, however, Tuareg resentments and aspirations for independence or greater autonomy for northern Mali were exploited by armed jihadist groups, who in early 2012 allied with, and subsequently displaced, the secular National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) in their rebellion; whereas these groups, in particular Ansar Dine, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), further ...[+++]benefited from the instability arising from the subsequent coup in Bamako, as well as from the wider regional instability, and fuelled by the uncontrolled arsenals in Libya; whereas the impending existential threat to the Malian state itself, combined with the systematic violations of human rights in the north, precipitated the armed interventions by French, African and UN forces to halt the atrocities and human rights violations committed by the extremist groups, to restore democracy, the rule of law and the authority of the Malian state, and to re-establish respect for human rights; whereas a preliminary peace agreement was signed on 18 June 2013 between the Malian Government and rebel forces; whereas the situation in Mali requires a response that goes beyond addressing security threats, including long-term commitment and decisive action on the part of the international community to tackle deep-rooted political, developmental and humanitarian challenges;

Based on my notes on what has been said by representatives of individual Parliamentary groups, it is not at all my view that our agenda is too liberal or too conservative; our agenda arises from the long-term aims and long-term agenda of the European Union, and the Czech contribution to it, the Czech imprint, showed itself in the very first days of the New Year as being well-conceived, because our emphasis on energy security may lead us, unexpectedly and none too soon, into some very thorough, in-depth discussion on how to e ...[+++]nsure the independence and freedom of the European Union, which presupposes independence or less dependence on energy imports and sources outside the European Union.

Mr. Speaker, the deputy leader of the Liberal Party knows full well that the fiscal balance solution is based on the advice of an independent expert panel, in fact one appointed by the previous government.

Promote a coherent, pragmatic and well coordinated approach on the European and national level towards policies aimed at unlocking the full potential of SMEs, which have already, through their success, demonstrated their ability to innovate continuously; encouraging the prospects for expansion and job creation of micro-enterprises and the self-employed; Involve on a regular basis all relevant SME stakeholders in the policy-making process, building on the recommendations of the project on stakeholder consultation[10] and, wherever relevant, integrate systematically also representative SME-organisations, into their advisory expert committees, high level working groups and other ...[+++] appropriate fora, building on the experience and best-practices already identified in this domain, notably through the European Charter for Small Enterprises and the Entrepreneurship Action Plan; Encourage the internationalisation of SMEs and cross-border cooperation between SMEs; Follow up on the progress of SME-related measures, including in the areas of the European Charter for Small Enterprises and report explicitly on the results in the progress reports on their national reform programmes; Support micro enterprises, including one-person-enterprises, in order to tap their potential regarding growth and employment; In adopting key Community programmes such as the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) and the 7th Research Framework Programme, ensure that SMEs are put in a position of fully benefiting from the programmes' added value.

We have the GST flip-flop to start off with; the Airbus investigation; voting against the Red Book promises of an independent ethics commissioner; the gun registry, which has cost billions of dollars and was supposed to cost $2 million; problems with the Transition Job Funds program; the Radwanski affair, whose appointment I voted against, by the way; the Pearson airport fiasco; Irving fishing lodge stays and travel on Irving jets by ministers and MPs; Mr. Martin travelling on private corporate jets as Finance Minister; the sponsorship scandal, which is right before the country and before every citizen, including the RCMP invest ...[+++]igations of Communications Coffin and Groupaction, and the possible investigations of the Quebec wing of the federal Liberal Party; the Shawinigate affair; the Liberal fundraiser, Pierre Corbeil, charged with fraud by the RCMP after he approached several Quebec companies seeking federal job training grants and asking for payments to the Liberal Party; former minister Gagliano's son benefiting from contracts from his father's department; and Gagliano's former speechwriter, Michèle Tremblay, on a $5,000-a-month retainer with the Canada Lands Company to provide speeches for the minister.

The government response at the time, a Liberal government headed by Pierre Trudeau, was a little more encouraging.