Brussels, 09/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - Responsibility and solidarity are key concepts for Hungary's current presidency of the EU Council of Ministers, Hungarian President Pal Schmitt said with a certain earnestness in Strasbourg on Wednesday 9 March in his address to the European Parliament. Former MEP Schmitt told Parliament that it was “not a simple laboratory of legislation”, but much more: the “soul” of Europe. And, in times of crisis, Europe more than ever needs the spirit and soul which the Hungarian people has in abundance, he said, recalling the 1956 revolution to underline that Hungarians can never remain indifferent to the struggles of others.
Turning to the Arab world: “What happened is not a miracle and perhaps not all that unexpected”, he said. He argued that Europe must both “protect its citizens” and “perform its humanitarian obligations”; it must “support with its own means a peaceful transition and the fight to a decent life in one's own land of birth”.
Where must the principles of solidarity and responsibility be strengthened? According to Schmitt, solidarity must be shown in the areas of: - finance: first and foremost, protection of the euro, reducing national deficits (he stated his own country was working on this), the use of the new European semester and, especially, prevention; - energy: the events in North Africa throw into sharp focus the need to develop the internal market, so money is required; - applicant countries: he argued for “clear responses, explicit conditions, definite schedules and perspectives” for the Western Balkan countries and for Turkey and Iceland.
Responsibility comes into play in: - economic recovery: cohesion policy must provide equal opportunities for the citizens of every country of the EU; - the macro-regional level: the Danube strategy, which Hungary strongly backs, will provide a framework and instruments for regional harmonisation; - borders: it is the south of Europe which is currently monopolising attention at the moment, but, Schmitt says, it is important to have good relations throughout the world; - minorities: diversity is the wealth of Europe; he also defended his country's right to stand up for the interests of Hungarians living abroad; - Roma: a viable strategy is vital.
“I am a fencer”, Schmitt said - he won two Olympic medals - and “I am not afraid of confrontation”. However, he went on, “I do not think that we should be competing in the European political arena today”. The mandate is to “serve a cause: to strengthen cohesion and to seek a compromise”. (L.G./transl.rt)