Brussels, 15/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - At the opening of the European Council on Wednesday afternoon, President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pöttering called on heads of state and government to make sure that Europe gives a coordinated response to the financial crisis. He called for member states to stay on course in the fight against climate change and the adoption of the energy-climate package, if possible before the end of the year. He also expressed the hope that December's European Council would adopt a roadmap for breaking the institutional deadlock caused by the Irish “no” vote on the Lisbon Treaty, preferably before the June 2009 European elections. At the press conference following his speech to the European Council, Pöttering also said that the EPP “pre-Summit” had agreed to support José Manuel Barroso's candidacy for a second term of office at the head of the European Commission.
Financial crisis. After noting that the EP had, already in 2002, “pointed to the shortcomings in regulation and oversight” in the EU financial system, and calling on the European Commission to bring forward legislative proposals to remedy these failings, Pöttering said, “The lesson for us today is this: uncoordinated national action cannot produce solutions. Only joint responsibility can do that. We need European solutions to this financial crisis”. That was why the EP welcomed the joint action plan adopted by the summit of Eurogroup leaders plus the United Kingdom in Paris last weekend. These measures should now be extended to all 27 member countries. “This will enable the European institutions and all the member states to meet the enormous challenges together, in solidarity,” Pöttering said. Beyond the short-term measures already decided on by the Council, the EU should work for a “new organisation of financial markets in Europe and beyond”, in line with a “social market economy,” he went on.
Climate change/energy. The financial crisis must not overshadow the urgent need for the EU to take action against global warming, Pöttering said. The EP still wants an agreement on the energy-climate package “by the end of this year, if possible”. “The ball is in the Council's court” and it would have to adopt its common position before beginning discussions with the EP. The final outcome must take account of the interests of the environment and also of business, he stressed.
Lisbon Treaty. After hearing the Irish Prime Minister's report (to which we will return tomorrow), Pöttering said he was confident that Brian Cowen would be able to put proposals for resolving the problem to December's European Council. “The December European Council should lay down a procedure which will allow the Lisbon Treaty to come into force in the near future. The European Parliament would welcome if this were to happen before the European elections in June 2009,” Pöttering said. “I do not doubt the determination of Brian Cowen to reach a solution and keep his country at the heart of European integration,” he told press. (H.B./transl.rt)