Brussels, 08/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - Discussions at the European Parliament on the forthcoming European Council (15 and 16 October) focused mainly on the financial crisis, to which Europe is trying to respond by its own means. This subject will dominate the meeting of the Heads of State or Government, which will also tackle the climate-energy package and the next steps to be taken after Ireland's no-vote in its referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
Financial situation. This Summit is of " singular importance in this time of crisis and instability, which calls for the expression of political will, initiatives and decisions", said Jean-Pierre Jouyet, addressing the MEPs meeting in Brussels on Wednesday 8 October. "We are responding to the crisis by our own means and with our own structures (...); we are not a federal state", stressed the French Secretary of State for European Affairs, but "we have nothing to blush for". According to Mr Jouyet, "the main thing is that the Europeans are acting together and taking their responsibilities alongside the ECB", welcoming the Bank's decision, taken a few hours previously, to lower interest rates (see other article).
"In Europe, we do not yet have rules which allow us to have typically a full European response", lamented José Manuel Barroso, pointing out that in a Union of States, above all things coordination and diligence must be shown. "Encouraged by the determination shown by the Member States" to react to the crisis, the President of the Commission is nonetheless "still not satisfied". The EU can and must "do more", he insisted, calling on the Member States to step up their coordination with each other and with the European institutions. We must not shilly-shally politically, but act with "ambition and realism". The proposals on requirements for own funds, the forthcoming ones on ratings agencies and the forthcoming revision of the Commission's recommendation on directors' pay (which has so far been "ignored" by the Member States) will provide the opportunity to show determination. For its part, the Commission has set in place a permanent crisis steering group within the College (made up of Commissioners Almunia, McCreevy and Kroes and chaired by Mr Barroso) and will soon create a high-level group tasked with making proposals on the future architecture of the financial markets (the former director-general of the IMF, Jacques de Larosière, will chair this group of independent experts), Mr Barroso went on to confirm.
Climate-Energy package. "The current context of economic slow-down is tending to exacerbate the concerns of some of our partners and of our industries", said Mr Jouyet, who said that he was ready to "seek flexibility" to be brought to the proposals of the Commission, without compromising their objectives and balance. In the view of Mr Barroso, whatever happens, the timetable laid down by the French Presidency must be adhered to (end of the year). On energy security, "much remains to be done", Mr Jouyet acknowledged. The European Council must adopt orientations and guidelines to help respond to the concerns of the States with the highest levels of energy dependency (the central and eastern European countries).
Lisbon Treaty. Before their meeting in December, at which they will decide on the road to travel together, the Heads of State and Government will examine the proposals to be made by Taioseach Brian Cowen.
"The instability we see today is an extra justification for giving the EU a renewed institutional framework", stressed Mr Jouyet.
The Pact on asylum and immigration (which will be officially adopted), Russia (reviewing the withdrawal of the Russian troops, a prerequisite for the resumption of negotiations on a new partnership agreement), Moldova and the future eastern partnership of the EU will also feature on next week's agenda.
Speaking on behalf of the EPP-ED, the French member, Joseph Daul said that Europe needed to act to prevent the financial crisis from affecting the funding of SMEs. "I am concerned that SMEs will disappear" as a result of this crisis, he said, pleading for an action plan in favour of SMEs. Mr Daul called on all countries which have not yet ratified the Lisbon Treaty to do so and voiced his hopes that the European Council would adopt, as scheduled, a roadmap to break the institutional deadlock, at their meeting in December. He spoke in favour of progressing "cautiously" on the Energy-Climate package, in order not to "scare" business. If it takes us an extra year to reach a compromise on this package, we must use it. The President of the PES group, Martin Schulz of Germany, said that the EU needed the Lisbon Treaty "more than ever". He criticised the composition of the limited steering group within the Commission, which includes the "ultra-liberal market defender" Charlie McCreevy and Neelie Kroes, who would like to do away with public banks ("two poachers who are unlikely to turn gamekeeper"). In the view of Mr Schulz, the measures recommended by the Ecofin Council are "good", but it would be wise, when legislating, to ban certain types of speculation (including speculation on foodstuffs). "It is the duty of our Union to give a united response" to the crisis, said Graham Watson (ALDE, UK), who stated that the Member States should not be taking unilateral decisions which would have multilateral consequences. On behalf of the Greens/EFA group, Pierre Jonckheer voiced his concern at the fact that the markets do not seem to have been "entirely convinced by the fairness" of the proposals of the Ecofin Council. The Irish MEP Brian Crowley (UEN) stated that Ireland should not be put under pressure to force it to ratify Lisbon. (A.B./L.C./trans.fl)