Brussels, 24/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 24 March, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown drew up a balance sheet at the European Parliament of the preparations for the G20 summit (Thursday 2 April in London), which will be focusing on reform of the international financial architecture. According to Brown, the history of European integration has shown that the EU is able to play a decisive role in this process. He explained that, “we in Europe are uniquely placed to lead the world in meeting the wholly new and momentous challenges of globalisation” because we have proved our ability over the last sixty years to cooperate across the borders and unite in diversity. Brown affirmed his European commitment several times and said that he was proud to be, “representing a country that does not see itself as an island adrift from Europe but as a country at the centre of Europe” and which had ratified the Lisbon treaty by a large majority.
He was confident that world leaders would also replace the former Washington consensus with a new consensus for our time. Mr Brown listed his priorities for the G20 summit: putting concerns about values shaken in the crisis back at the heart of the matter; balancing economic freedom with social justice - yes to a free market but no to the destruction of ethical values at the service of humanity; stabilising the financial markets and relaunching the economy; integrating off-balance sheet banking operations with the field of supervision, implementing international transparency standards on pay, getting rid of tax havens and off shore centres, public support for economic recovery;
- helping victims of the crisis: training for the unemployed and unqualified young people; - raising the IMF budget to $500 billion and granting it the ability to assist countries in difficulty and prevent crises; - responding to the challenges of climate change by investing in a low carbon economy, based on the Energy-Climate package adopted at the end of 2008; - preventing protectionism which is “the politics of defeatism, turning in on oneself and fear”; - tackling poverty: “500,000 more children, 10.5 million in total” will die this year as a result of the world economic crisis.
“Never in recent years have we had an American leadership so keen at all levels to cooperate with Europe on financial stability, climate change, security and development,” the UK Prime Minister said. Leaving for New York where he will meet newly elected President Barack Obama, he hoped for a new era in transatlantic cooperation able to combat nuclear proliferation and promote nuclear disarmament. He felt it was essential to achieve peace in the Middle East, with a safe Israel living beside a viable Palestine.
Hoping for concrete results from the G20 Summit, José Manuel Barroso said that there was no dichotomy between the budgetary plans of economic recovery and preparing new financial rules. He pointed out that the Commission would, in May, present proposals on hedge funds.
Recalling his years as a volunteer fireman, Frenchman Joseph Daul (EPP-ED) noted the extent to which economies were interconnected. When a house is on fire, it doesn't take long for the flames to reach the neighbour's house, he said. He berated MEPs who recommended more social Europe, since, he said, it was “these simplistic slogans” that led to the failures of the 1980s. Joseph Daul told Gordon Brown that, opposing protectionism, he had also spoken out against reserving jobs to British workers. Social Group President Martin Schulz said that, when one holds the seat that is his, one should be able to “make the difference between protectionism and social protection”. He went on to stress: “It is true. It is difficult to recognise that the policy that you have defended for ten years was a bad policy!” Speaking on behalf of the Liberals, Graham Watson of Britain considered that the American leaning towards “skeleton” regulation should not prevent Europe from going further. “We need a European financial services authority”, he stressed. Expecting the single currently to come out of the crisis even stronger than before, he challenged Gordon Brown to place the United Kingdom on the road to adopting single currency. Brian Crowley (UEN, Ireland) hoped measures taken would first of all be to citizens' advantage rather than to the advantage of the financial institutions. “Let's show them that they are part of the solution”, he stressed. Monica Frassoni (Greens/EFA, Italy) considered the initiatives aimed at tax havens were not bold enough. In her view, it is necessary to “stop the action of hedge funds” and at the same time replace banks at the heart of financing the economy and reduce the profits of speculators, the “mafia”. Regretting that the EU succumbed to unregulated capitalism after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Francis Wurtz (GUE/NGL, France) called for the “great casino' to be closed. He spoke of the protest march by the main British trade union, UNITE, next Saturday in London. Nigel Farage (IND/DEM, UK) heaped opprobrium on Gordon Brown for having favoured ratification of the Lisbon Treaty while renouncing his promise to consult citizens by referendum. Daniel Hannan (NA, UK) denounced the British government's policy of indebtedness and social spending. (M.B./transl.rh/rt/jl)