Brussels, 24/03/2005 (Agence Europe) - Daniel Cohn Bendit, the co-president of the Greens-EFA at the European Parliament said in a press statement that the European Summit of 22-23 March set a good course for Europe, notably because ten new mould for the Stability Pact was more intelligent. He also underlined that the Greens wanted more of a taking into account of the environmental aspects and sustainable development. Mr Cohn Bendit said that an economic strategy would only be positive if it accorded a central place to the increasing of environmental technologies and efficiency of resource. He also welcomed the European Council's conclusions on climate change. He stated that although the reference of support “in spirit” to the conclusion of the environment ministers for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 60%-80% by 2050 was a blow to Mr Barroso, who until then had refused to set objectives for reducing polluting emissions.
Daniel Cohn Bendit said that this summit had been a sort of “private lesson” for president Barroso, notably on the services directive. He averred that the Commission, Council and Parliament had to work together with the workers and employers to rework the directive. He warned the Commission against any temptation to “get it through the back door” with the same proposals. According to Cohn Bendit, the disquiet with the Bolkestein directive cannot be explained simply by the positions of come Member State governments but rather by the fact that it did not get a majority at the European Parliament.