Brussels, 03/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - Addressing a sparsely populated chamber on Wednesday 3 December, French Secretary of State for European Affairs Jean-Pierre Jouyet set out the challenges for the European Council of 11-12 December for MEPs meeting in plenary session. It is expected that this will be a “difficult” meeting with a very heavy agenda.
Coordinated economic recovery. “The Commission's proposals are on the right track,” Jouyet repeated, the day after EU Finance Ministers backed the recovery plan (see EUROPE 9795). “What is proposed by the Commission responds to (current) difficulties,” the minister said, and “we are determined to get the most ambitious overall plan possible,” he stated. It was “quite difficult to find an economic response for 27 countries with such different situations,” observed Commission President José Manuel Barroso, calling for the implementation of the recovery plan to have the same level of dialogue as its preparation. He said that “everyone must assume their responsibilities”. It would be particularly illogical not to agree to strengthen action at European level, he said, calling for adjustment of the European budgetary framework to allow unspent appropriations to be used.
Joseph Daul, speaking on behalf of the EPP-ED, congratulated the Commission on its work and the many texts it had presented since the start of the crisis. “Our priority has to be to restore consumer confidence,” said the French MEP, regretting that some political groupings did not share this view and were trying to use the crisis to their own political advantage. The Centre-Right was not doing that, stressed Daul, and he wanted to defend the European social market economy which is so envied by the world.
“25 million unemployed! That is what we will have in 2010 unless we act now,” said Party of European Socialists leader Poul Nyrup Rasmussen. “Something I didn't find in the Commission programme is ambition,” he complained. He said that plans had to be drawn up to protect jobs, and we had to decide how much it would cost (he opined 1% of GDP next year and in 2010 and 2011). Europe had already been in hot water and decisive action was needed from the Council, argued Graham Watson (ALDE, UK). There still was urgency and “I don't think I have to point this out to the Council President,” said Jouyet with a smile.
Climate-energy package. The aim was still to reach first reading agreement by the end of the month. This was not “a matter of vanity on the part of the French Presidency,” Jouyet stated, and he indicated that he did not want to stray far from the Commission's original arguments. Nevertheless, “sufficient flexibility” had to be shown with member states, which would have to make great sacrifices, and with the most affected industrial sectors. Jouyet felt that the trialogue agreement reached on Monday was “balanced” (see EUROPE 9795). “Everything the Commission has said so far seems to negate what has been done in the trilogue,” was, however, the opinion of Rebecca Harms, speaking for the Greens/EFA. The German MEP said the “New Green Deal” everyone was talking about had to be structured instead of continuing along the path of the policies of the past.
Lisbon Treaty. With the dual objective of avoiding marginalising Ireland in Europe and proposing a solution that respects the positions of the other member states, heads of state and government will have to say what to do with regard to the Irish “No” vote on the Lisbon, Treaty. Perhaps foreshadowing the path to be taken, a report adopted last week by the Irish Parliament sub-committee said that there were no legal obstacles to holding a second referendum, if certain assurances were given (see EUROPE 9792). This report was welcomed by the Taoiseach Brian Cowen who has not, however, formally said he will take it on board. Contacts between Messrs Cowen and Sarkozy would continue until the end of the week, Jouyet said, stating that the Council Presidency was ready to help the Irish understand their demands and see what legal guarantees they needed, “given that 25 parliaments have ratified the Treaty and that a clear signal has to be sent on the Treaty's coming into effect”. This was not an ambition shared by Mary Lou McDonald (GUE/NGL, Ireland). (A.B./transl.rt)