Brussels, 27/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - MEPs generally welcomed the outcome of the 23 and 24 March Spring European Council but few were more than lukewarm, and some have reacted scathingly. Reaction was often mixed within the same political party (see EUROPE 9158 and Special Issue 9159 for comments by European Parliament President Josep Borrell).
At the EPP-ED group, President Hans-Gert Pottering, talked about a positive if unspectacular outcome. He welcomed the conclusions on the services directive and greater energy policy coordination, adding that the next priority issue should be agreement on the Financial Perspectives. Other CDU/CSU MEPs take a more negative view, with Werner Langen (CDU) saying the failed Italian attempt to get a declaration opposing protectionism meant the European Council had not achieved much in terms of an EU energy policy because if Member States cannot even agree on the basic principles of the common market in this area, how can they possibly agree on better coordination of future EU energy policy? He added that countries with liberalised energy markets (like Germany, the UK and the Netherlands) should have given greater backing to the Italian idea. Alexander Radwan of the CSU slammed the national egotism of Member States, which gave him the impression the common market was being sacrificed on the altar of enlargement. British Conservative Timothy Kirkhope expressed disappointment because the Spring Summit 'did not endorse a stronger Services Directive and failed to address 'Old-European' protectionism.'
In a press release, the President of the Party of European Socialists, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, said 'some positive and promising decisions were taken despite the tensions and disagreements.' The former Danish prime minister explained 'the energy initiative was proposed by Tony Blair last October and has the full support of the leaders of Europe's Socialist, Social Democratic and Labour parties.' He welcomed progress on flexicuirty and 'Jose Socrates' intervention in favour of public spending to kick start growth and jobs. This is the direct result of the PES growth and investment strategy and our recent leaders' meeting in Prague… Socialists are not in favour of economic nationalism or protectionism… But neoliberals have a tendency to call anything they don't like protectionism. Protecting workers' rights is not protectionism.'
ALDE group President Graham Watson said the Summit had made some progress. 'EU leaders have managed to come away with some clear tasks for the Commission and Member States to implement over the next 12 months that will move the Lisbon Agenda forward. But the up-beat note was made possible only by avoiding the more controversial, though necessary, debate on the recent resurgence of economic nationalism.' The British MEP added: 'these 'economic' summits now should be formalised as a full EU summit meeting. National leaders have enough business to do together to justify meeting three times a year, as well as the informal meeting in the autumn.' ALDE member Jorgo Chatzimarkakis welcomed the Summit's green light for setting up an EU technology institute.
The Greens/EFA group is far less positive. 'Another spring, another summit echoing hollow promises. European Councils have become dull and predictable routines, with the recycled rhetoric underlining the Member States' failure to deliver on their EU-level commitments year after year,' said Monica Frassoni, Co-President of the Greens, adding: 'The weak conclusions on energy policy, which completely skirted around the main issue of the dysfunctional energy markets, serve to highlight the need for new political leadership to overcome the national rivalries, which are holding Europe back.' Luxembourg MEP Claude Turmes said European consumers had been cheated out of at least €15 billion in 2005 alone though lack of competitiveness on the energy market. The Brussels Summit totally ignored the current disorder, he said, and the fact all the supposed benefits of liberalising the gas and electricity markets have been pocketed by a handful of energy companies and their shareholders. He said it was regrettable that the Austrian Presidency had given way to the pro-nuclear power lobby led by France and the European Commission. Turmes did, however, welcome the call for greater energy efficiency and a recommended target of 15% of renewables by 2015, although a 20% target would have given a greater kick-start to investor confidence in new technology. Belgian Green MEP Pierre Jonckheer said 'Chancellor Schussel's attempt to liven up a dull affair by promising to deliver 2 million jobs a year is irresponsible political gimmickry: the Council proposes no concrete measures for meeting this promise.' Jonckheer welcomed 'the proposal obliging Member States to submit national reports on social protection and social inclusion by this September. The commitment to review the environmental structural indicators, to allow for better monitoring and communication of the environmental dimension of the Lisbon Agenda, is a welcome addition.'