Madrid, 08/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - After meeting in Madrid on Friday 8 January 2010 with the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, and the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, the Spanish prime minister, José Luis Zapatero, said that new EU governance, particularly on economic issues and foreign policy that protected the interests of Europeans was on hand, objectives shared by all three politicians. The three men were launching the six months of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU and preparing for the informal European Summit in Brussels on 11 February to decide on the foundations of the EU's new strategy for 2020. They made it clear that they agreed on the EU's objectives and the problems to be tackled.
Without specifically backing the idea of 'EU economic governance' mooted by the Spanish government, Van Rompuy and Barroso seemed to share the spirit of the idea at least (see related article).
Herman Van Rompuy, who will be submitting proposals to the 11 February summit, said the EU had to consider better coordination in the use of EU instruments in the future, requiring stronger governance and better scrutiny of the process. He said it was vital to ensure full recovery of the European economy after the economic crisis. Barroso also called for stronger coordination and welcomed Zapatero's aims in this connection.
Herman Van Rompuy said that the meeting in Madrid marked the start of 'very close cooperation' between himself, José Luis Zapatero and José Manuel Barroso. Van Rompuy said it was by working together at all levels that they would be able to tackle the new challenges. He said the three men would also be working together in the spirit of the Lisbon Treaty to ensure the EU functions better.
Drawing on the discussions at the 11 February summit, the European Commission will prepare a report on the issue to be discussed by the European Council n March 2010. The EU's 2020 strategy will be adopted at the June 2010 European Council at the end of the Spanish Presidency. (L.C. trans fl)