Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2011-06-22-Speech-3-027-000"
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"en.20110622.12.3-027-000"2
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"Mr President, President of the Commission, President-in-Office of the Council, Minister Győri, I would firstly like to say a brief word to you, in acknowledgement of all the work you have done and especially of the methodical approach you employed and the hours you devoted to this work, with Parliament in particular. I think that is worth mentioning and so, once again, thank you.
This brings me back to the European Council, from which we are awaiting confirmation of European solidarity. However, beyond the current crisis and in order to achieve a sustainable recovery, we are also awaiting far-reaching economic governance reforms because, while we have completed the monetary side of the economic and monetary union, with the euro, the economic side is inadequate, and we are paying a high price for that today. The Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) is appealing for the Community method to be used to negotiate the legislative package merely to prevent our Member States from being able to shirk their obligations too easily, as they have done in the past. When the Council, with Parliament, decides upon economic regulations to be complied with by the 27 Member States, it is not so that they can be waived at the first opportunity. We simply want an assurance that they will be complied with. If we can take anything away from the crisis we are going through, it is the need to learn from the past. I call on everyone in this Chamber to recognise that.
I will conclude on a positive note, by welcoming the anticipated Council decision on the forthcoming accession of Croatia, which is set to become the European Union’s 28th Member State in a few months’ time. This decision will reward the tremendous efforts made by the Croatian people and their government, whose courage and sense of public good I wish to commend. This accession is an important and positive signal for Europeans, who are doubting themselves right now. However, the values that Europe embodies – solidarity, tolerance, openness towards others, respect for minorities, respect for human rights and human dignity – have never been more deserving of support than in these times of globalisation, when the balance of power too often takes precedence over everything else. I am certain that if the people of Europe so wish, and if the Union overcomes division and populism, we will emerge stronger from the difficult times we are currently experiencing. I hope that the Heads of State or Government will promote this vision over any other view.
You are applauding her, but it could not have been any other way: we have trained her well within our group. Therefore, she knows what Parliament is all about.
Seldom has a European Council meeting taken place in such difficult and tense circumstances. Seldom have expectations been so high among the people in our various countries, expectations of brave and united decisions from their leaders on the burning issue of the euro and the debt crisis, as well as on economic governance. In several countries, and especially in Greece, our fellow citizens are confused, anxious and deeply concerned about their and their children’s future. I would like to take this opportunity to send out three messages to our Greek friends.
Firstly, Europe is in solidarity with them, and we Europeans are doing everything within our means to extricate them from an extremely difficult situation, in a spirit of solidarity and responsibility – and I stress the word responsibility.
Secondly, the situation that they – and indeed many other countries in Europe – are experiencing is the result of many years of living beyond their means. This has to be said, and I call for all Europeans to face up to reality.
My third message is a product of the first two: Europe can only help Greece, or any other country in difficulty, if it does everything it possibly can to consolidate its economic and financial situation in the long term. This will involve making sacrifices, but it will result in positive changes for the country in the end. This too must be said, and I cannot help but think of the example of Latvia here: a few years ago, it was on the verge of bankruptcy, and thanks to a courageous recovery policy led by the country’s twice-elected Prime Minister, Valdis Dombrovskis, it has restored a balanced situation.
Two different attitudes can be adopted with regard to the current situation: either people settle for marching in the streets and striking – that is part of the trade union movement (I myself was a trade unionist) – or, after having expressed their concern, they set about redressing the situation on the basis of a fair policy.
My group, ladies and gentlemen, is calling for a shake-up. It is calling for all of our countries to wake up to the fact that changes are both necessary and beneficial. We will emerge from the crisis not by pinpointing scapegoats (Europe, the International Monetary Fund and others), but by rolling up our sleeves – and when I say ‘us’, I am of course talking about the political class, but also about all of the 500 million European citizens."@en1
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