Brussels, 26/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 20 January, the president of the European Council addressed the Belgian diplomatic corps. He said that despite the staggering speed of change in the world over recent years, Europe had proved that contrary to the claims often made about its decline, “it has an impressive instinct for survival”. Herman Van Rompuy underlined some of the achievements such as the successive enlargements and the single currency. Nonetheless, he did say that there had been a certain and perceptible, “environment of anxiety” and that “too many changes create a fear of further change”. In an effort to counter this anxiety, he explained that efficient social protection was necessary, as well as the crucial development of charities and family resources. This is particularly the case given that “even deeper changes” are expected, particularly at the economic level.
Growth in emerging countries is likely to lead to shortages of raw materials and foodstuffs. Price hikes and the reduced availability of certain raw materials have already been observed and are signs of things to come. Faced with these new threats, it is not just the EU27 that has to act together - global cooperation is required too, in an effort to develop responses to the shortages. The president of the European Council explained that in this connection “the G20 is the ideal forum for global economic policy coordination… and it must become a 'continuous process'”.
According to Van Rompuy, the greatest threat is not globalisation as such but “the greatest challenge of all is to maintain genuine free trade and exchange rates that represent the fundamental elements of the economy”. He added that the eurozone's balance of payments is balanced and that it “it does therefore not present any danger to the world economy”.
Moving onto the energy chapter, Van Rompuy pointed out that the next European Council (4 February) would primarily focus on the issue of the EU's energy supply security. He affirmed that it would be necessary to develop a genuine internal energy market, promote greater interconnection and “free up isolated pockets of energy”. Finally, with regard to climate problems, the president of the European Council said that the biggest polluters had to make the biggest effort. He pointed out what the EU had done at Copenhagen. He concluded that whatever happened, it was necessary for the other major polluting countries to adopt emission reduction policies comparable to those advocated by the EU. (O.L./transl.fl)