Madrid, 16/04/2010 (Agence Europe) - Criticising the absence of political determination, the former Spanish prime minister, José María Aznar, advocated a “new economic agenda” based on freedom and openness on the markets, in an effort to fight protectionism. He made these statements on Thursday 15 April, at a conference on banking regulation organised by the Economic Ideas Forum (European People's Party) (EUROPE 10119) in Madrid. He also supported reforms such as labour market flexibility, extending the working day and introducing market criteria for the use of certain social spending. With regard to the difficulties experienced by Economic and Monetary Union, he insisted on the need to set in place more demanding rules in the stability and growth pact, “if not, Greece will not be the only member state to have problems”. He also stressed the need for healthy public finances, the only condition that would help them get out of the crisis. He reiterated his support for NATO and called on Europeans to think about the consequences of what would happen if Europe were no longer a priority for the US. He called for reform of NATO and the creation of a transatlantic area, which he said was not exactly the same as a free trade zone. (M.B./transl.fl)