“Europe of results” is working well and, Barroso says, will remain the Commission's leitmotiv until the end of its mandate

Brussels, 14/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - The Commission will pursue its policy of a “Europe of results” during the 25 months, until October 2009, that remain of its mandate and will “put the European citizen at the heart of the action”. “We have every reason to keep our strategic line and to continue to concentrate on achieving concrete results for citizens,” said Commission President José Manuel Barroso following a seminar which the 27 commissioners held on Thursday 13 September (see EUROPE 9500). “The situation in Europe is better today” than it was some years ago and “the support and confidence of citizens in the European Union is at its highest level for ten years,” he told a group of journalists. He noted this Commission's main achievements of direct effect on citizens: the relaunch of the Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs, preparation of the energy package and combating climate change, reducing mobile phone roaming costs. “In the face of globalisation, we have to defend and promote the interests of European citizens,” both in the internal market and in external relations. Having a proactive attitude to shape globalisation and “protect citizens without being protectionist,” these are, and remain, the watchwords of the Barroso Commission.

The College of Commissioners also discussed the future of Europe. In this context, the commissioners spoke about the proposal by Nicolas Sarkozy to create a panel of eminent persons to reflect upon EUROPE 2020-2030. Seeking the input of independent and experienced figures is “an interesting idea”, but their ideas “cannot replace the decisions of the European institutions,” Barroso said. The group would also have to have a “precise mandate” and its reflections would have to be on “the major objectives of Europe”, not just the issue of the EU's borders or Turkey, as the comments from the French president suggested. “If the mandate is clearly set out, it's an excellent idea,” said Barroso. If the European Council backs the proposal, the group will submit its report by “the end of 2009”. (hb)