November plenary: Economic governance, Commission work programme, Lux Prize

Wednesday morning MEPs discussed the immediate and medium term needs for stronger EU economic governance with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, Europgroup President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso. The majority of EP political group leaders warned that any Treaty change would need to carried out in an open manner, including national parliaments and the EP.  This was the only way democratic legitimacy could be ensured they said.

"Talk on a two tier Europe has been exaggerated.  It is time to de-dramatise this.  It is true however to realise that it is those member states which are outside of the eurozone that have a derogation and not the other way round," Van Rompuy said.

Barroso said: "Stronger economic governance is now a matter of common sense and not the dreams of people in favour of Europe.  This crisis has taught us the lesson of interdependence and this is why we must solve things together."

For Juncker: "The economic semester (economic coordination system) needs to be more political and less technical.  The EU's economic policy coordination cannot remain the preserve of finance ministers."

"Mr Van Rompuy needs to work much faster now.  When there is a fire you try to put it out quickly rather than analyse the situation," EPP leader Joseph Daul said. On a multi-speed EU he said: "We need to include those member states which envisage joining the eurozone in the near future. In this sense we should go further on economic governance together with these countries."

Socialist leader Martin Schulz said: "Italy and Greece need investment and growth.  This is what we should be discussing this morning. These countries are not only victims of excessive indebtedness but also of speculation." Reacting to Van Rompuy he said: "The EP is not a think-tank but a source of solutions as can be evidenced by the adoption of the six pack legislation, rules on short selling etc."

Daniel Cohn-Bendit for the Greens went further, "We need a European investment strategy. Member states are no longer able to undertake the necessary investment on their own." Eurobonds and the opinion given by Angela Merkel's advisers for a mutualisation of debt are what is needed, he said.

"The Franco-German method is not sustainable. We need a global approach spearheaded by the Commission.  We need an economic and fiscal union.  This is the only possibility to end the crisis as has even been recognised by Angela Merkel's economic advisors," Liberal leader Guy Verhofstadt said.

Ideology is prevailing over economic thought in this chamber today," ECR leader Jan Zahradil said. He went on to say, "be aware that if the treaty is changed some member states will not just quietly accept the changes without negotiating and asking for certain concessions."

Lothar Bisky for the GUE/NGL group asked, "how large must the crisis become before you understand what is needed?  People want social equality and less tax injustice.  We need a fairer burden sharing in the reforms undertaken."

EFD leader Nigel Farage said, "what we have now is German dominance. Precisely what the EU was set up to prevent.  I do not want to be dominated by Germany."