Brussels, 23/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - Reviewing the results of the G20 Summit, Petr Neèas concluded the London meeting was of a founding kind (EUROPE 9875). Although underlining the summit's success, the Czech minister for labour and social affairs also took care to point out that the commitments taken had still to be implemented if there was really to be emergence of a new era, for which so many praises were sung on 2 April. “This summit may be a success story”, Mr Neèas said. At any rate, participants launched a very clear signal in favour of economic multilateralism and re-injected some confidence into the economy (“There are reasons to hope” and to “show moderate optimism”). Several MEPs (beginning with the rightwing of the House) also considered with some caution that the G20 had been a success. Others (mainly those at the other extreme) were more critical, speaking of a missed opportunity. The EP will adopt a resolution on Friday 24 April.
Joseph Daul largely welcomed the actions of the G20 aimed at extending financial regulation and combating tax havens. “We shall only overcome the crisis if changes are made”, the president of the EPP-ED Group said, exalting the social market economy (“our only defence is transparency”). The president of the Party of European Socialists, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen (Denmark) half-heartedly approved the results of the summit as, despite everything that has been done, the EU is heading towards 27 million unemployed. He said a rapid and coordinated solution is needed, calling on the Commission: “Don't tell us again that you have launched 4% recovery measures as it will be even more when there are 27 million unemployed!” (Ed.: due to taking into account of spending linked to economic stabilisers). Caroline Lucas (Greens/EFA, UK) said the summit was a “missed opportunity”. Measures envisaged will drag the world into a high coal-consumption economy, just when a vital transition should have been made towards the green economy. Francis Wurtz also sees the summit as a missed opportunity, slamming the resolve of G20 leaders to send a reassuring message to the markets at all cost. This means they will ignore reality and the enormous losses to come ($4,000 billion according to the IMF), the GUE/NGL president states (“The G20 recommended homeopathic remedies when what is needed is major surgery”). In his view, the EU must go further than the G20's words and intentions as people expect “strong action and not soothing words”. This call for action was shared by the chairperson of the economic and monetary affairs committee at the EP, Pervenche Berès. The G20, she said with irony, only applied the “Barroso method”, adding that the main world leaders had been content with adding more measures to those that already existed in order to then consider them as a recovery plan. A real kick-start is needed, she exclaimed, saying this should be financed by a “European loan”. She went on to goad the Commission, saying: “It is time for you to get down to work!” (A.B./transl.jl)