Gutiérrez-Cortines (PPE-DE). – (ES) Mr President, I am very happy to see that the European Union and the Commission, and all of us together, are supporting the consumers’ associations. They are, in a sense, the other element of the triptych which makes up democracy.

I would also, however, like to stress certain aspects which seem to me to be very positive. In accordance with this spirit of providing incentive, I believe it is enormously important to create networks and that they are not just made up of the European consumers’ associations already consolidated. The danger with this type of aid is that we create a group of associations receiving preferential treatment which, in the end, creates an autonomous body, with no relationship with the grass roots.

To this end, we have introduced certain amendments mentioning regional and national associations, because it is extremely important that, particularly in relation to the management and implementation of the programme, the Commission ensures that the small associations can emerge, clearly linked to the scheme and the network. Since we also have the challenge of the new democracies in the Eastern countries, it is essential to incentivise the creation of small associations in every part of the Union.

I would like to praise the efforts of the small associations located in regions far from the decision-making centres such as Brussels. It often takes genuine heroism to create an association in these regions, in which the people feel alone and misunderstood and where they often have to touch raw nerves or denounce aspects relating to their immediate neighbours to the local authorities, bearing in mind the scant inspection the administration can carry out.

I therefore welcome this initiative and would ask that, when it comes to distributing aid, account be taken not just of the need to provide incentives for emerging associations and to strengthen the small ones, by linking them to the more consolidated associations, but that we also need to ensure that the more consolidated ones fulfil their duties and make contacts with all parts of the Union.