Speaking just ahead of the European Council in Brussels on the EU's relations with strategic partners and economic governance, European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek made the following remarks.  


1. On EU's relations with Strategic partners:

European External Action Service:

"Europe is spreading its wings. We should ensure that the EEAS takes off. We should take care that it does not end up like Icarus. For the time being I am very optimistic. We are about to give birth to a new strong service for Europe, we must look after it and make sure it grows up healthily."

"The European Parliament is working to ensure that the two remaining legislative proposals - to amend the EU's staff and financial regulations - will be passed in Parliament by the end of October at the very latest. This will allow the service to be operational one year after the Lisbon Treaty came into effect."

"The European Parliament will be monitoring in years to come that in the future we will create mechanisms that will ensure not only that the 'best and the brightest' are hired as Lady Ashton says, but that the best will also display a proper gender and geographic balance."

Transatlantic partnership and beyond

"The Parliament is convinced that our future lies in a strong Transatlantic relationship which should continue to be an axis of peace, prosperity and democracy - but equally this is no longer sufficient. We need to engage the other global powers to solve many of the world's current problems. The transatlantic partnership is the core which must remain the engine of change in the future."

Parliamentary dimension

"We are convinced that the parliamentary dimension of foreign policy needs to be strengthened. Major public debates should take place on the parliamentary floor, rather than on the streets of Seattle or Genoa."

Neighbourhood Policy

"In external relations, the EU should particularly take care of its neighbourhood by supporting democracy and economic reform.  It is vital that the EU stays open to the European aspirations of those countries."

2. Economic governance

"Europe must find its way out of the dark place that is the crisis. With new EU legislation, we are breaking down walls. We are letting light in to boost the European economy so we can overcome barriers."

"We are in favour of maintaining the 'Community method' in decision-making, and to use Union instruments to foster economic governance in Europe. Today, more than ever, we need a true economic union."

""We are happy that the Commission yesterday - exactly two years after the breakdown of Lehman Brothers - finally submitted a second package of proposals - including on Credit Default Swaps - with further steps to regulate financial markets, and look forward to further package on economic governance at the end of this month. We eagerly await the conclusions of the Task Force on European Economic Governance, chaired by President Van Rompuy, due in a few weeks."

"The Parliament will be passing a resolution on economic governance in early October."

"It is important to guarantee democratic and political accountability and the European Parliament has to be involved."

"Our policies can only be credible if they are adequately funded. We cannot have more Europe with less money.  The next budget has to be about competitiveness and modernisation."

New own-resources

"We support the idea of creating some form of new own resources for the Union. We found the Commission President's proposal, made in last week's State of the Union speech, of a ten- year financial perspective, with a five-year review, very interesting. We shall certainly want to look at it."

"Today, we need more and not less Europe. I agree with President Barroso that at all levels of government, we need to think European.  We must think about the costs of non-Europe."

Completing the single market

"We expect the European Commission to produce concrete proposals to re-launch and complete the single market, and close the 150 gaps or bottle-necks that still exist in its operation. This is the most sustainable way for us to create new employment in Europe."

3. Social exclusion

"These past months have demonstrated that our European states more than ever need to show solidarity with one another."  

"I am deeply concerned that the failure to integrate those excluded from our societies will negatively affect the project of European Integration. This year is the European year in the fight against poverty and social exclusion. We have to come with European solutions to help the less fortunate in our societies."

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Note to Editors:
The full speech of European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek to the European Council will be available shortly.

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For further information:
Inga Rosińska
Spokeswoman
Mobile: +32 498 981 354