Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-04-13-Speech-3-050"
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"en.20050413.2.3-050"2
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"Mr President, the March summit was supposed to be about relaunching the Lisbon Agenda. Sadly, I regret that it may well go down in history as somewhat a fudged affair. An apparent assault on liberal economics by the French President and others was not an edifying sight. Being quoted calling the liberalisation of Europe’s economies the new communism of our age, if true, was somewhat extraordinary. Any attempt to undermine our services directive is sadly a clear sign that the anti-reform forces in Europe remain active.
President Barroso said recently that some people think the European Commission is there to protect the old ‘15’ against the new ‘10’. It is not. He is absolutely right; the services directive is a fundamental building block of a successful, dynamic economy. Those who seek to undermine the progress of the internal market do no service to the millions of unemployed in their countries. On the contrary, as the new Member States have demonstrated so clearly, it is the liberalising economies that are the successful job-creating economies.
The so-called European social model has assumed such significance among some nations that it seems almost impossible to undertake proper reform. I am afraid that this new model, whatever merits it may have had in former times, is now something of an Achilles heel to our economy. It has perpetuated high unemployment – 19 million at the last count; it fostered anti-enterprise cultures; and every day that we remain unreformed the competitiveness of China, the United States and India increases, to our disadvantage.
As I have mentioned to Mr Barroso, I believe that he is very sincere in his drive to get the required reforms, but he has been badly let down by others; by heads of government, including our British Prime Minister, whose short-termism has made it much more difficult for Mr Barroso to make progress.
There are some good Council conclusions, such as on the Kyoto Protocol and sustainable development, but I am afraid that the heavy-handed tactics of some leaders, trying to put a brake on our economic reform and playing games with an increasingly discredited Stability and Growth Pact, serve as a timely reminder to us all that we could have our interests sacrificed to short-term political interests if we are not vigilant."@en1
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