Brussels, 18/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - At a press conference following his election, on Tuesday 17 January, President elect of the European Parliament Martin Schulz took the opportunity to answer a few questions from journalists on his style and his substance.
Style first of all. “What are you going to do to keep your political inclinations in check?”, a German journalist asked. “I am how I am… I will defend the dignity of the position, but I note all too often that people do not understand what policies mean… I therefore intend to use plain language and if it breaks down, I will do my best to make sure that it breaks down with dignity”, Schulz replied.
The result of the election. Did the EPP respect the agreement as a whole? You should have had some hundred votes more…This is an honest result, broad support which I very much welcome, Schulz replied. In answer to anyone wishing to denounce the agreement, he says that it was never in question when President Buzek was elected - I get the feeling that for you, it is not an institutional question, but a political one.
As for his apparent scepticism regarding decisions at first reading, the president of the EP challenges the idea that a single reading speeds up procedures: 70% of first-reading agreements take as long as two readings, because it is often the Council holding things up.
Presence of the Parliament in meetings of the eurozone countries at heads of state level. It is quite as it should be that the president of the EP does not attend meetings of the Council, but it is different in the case of new structures concerning fiscal and budgetary union.
When asked about the “difficult” attitude or “lack of generosity” of the German government regarding the financial crisis, Schulz said: “the Germans are asked to 'lead', and when they do, they are told no, not like that…”. He called on the European partners to try to understand his country. Germany takes considerable risks and it needs guarantees. But perhaps it should explain its position to its partners better, so that they can remind it how important they are to its economy. (LG/transl.fl)