José Manuel Barroso
President of the European Commission

Response to UK Presidency Programme

European Parliament - Plenary Session
Brussels, 23 June 2005

President Borrell

Prime Minister Blair

Honourable Members

We have entered a turbulent period in European politics, and the difficult European Council last week simply reflected that fact. If nothing else, last week's meeting of European leaders established the need for the new political consensus which I called for in this very chamber two weeks ago. A consensus which is vital if we are to avoid barren ideological confrontations and paralysis; which is vital if we are to deliver on our programme of prosperity, solidarity and security - reconnecting Europe to its citizens by delivering solutions to the challenges they face.

Your Presidency is taking place at a decisive moment for Europe. Saying this has become a cliché, but this time it happens to be true. This has important implications for the responsibilities you are about to take on. It also raises high expectations. So the UK's record of pragmatism, and results-oriented action, will be put to the test in the coming six months. Prime Minister Blair, you are a statesman of enormous experience and conviction, committed to the common values of our continent. I therefore have every confidence that you will lead an inclusive, constructive debate on what Europe can do for its citizens, and create the consensus required for the urgent decisions that Europe needs.

I am greatly encouraged that achieving this new consensus and playing an active role during the period of reflection called for by the European Council are priorities for the incoming UK Presidency. As I outlined yesterday, the Commission will also fully live up to the special role it has been given for this debate on the future of Europe. You will recall the meetings I proposed with all Member States - including parliaments, social partners, civil society and young people, to listen and share ideas. A strategy paper will draw on the results of this debate and tackle fundamental questions about the future of Europe. This will feed into next June's European Council, under the Austrian Presidency, where we will reassess the situation. Of course, the Parliament must play a vital role in all this.

President Borrell

Prime Minister Blair

Honourable Members

As 50 years of history have taught us, the day-to-day business of the EU continues - even during one of its periodic crises. And so it should. Yes, it is crucial that we address core issues, which help to define the Europe our citizens want. But we must not get lost in a period of narrow introspection. It is by actions, not words, that we will win back public trust and confidence.

There is certainly plenty of business to be getting on with, as Prime Minister Blair has just made clear. The goals and priorities he has outlined for the UK Presidency over the next six months closely match those of the European Commission, and he can count on our support and advice in working towards them. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight one or two of them in particular.

Economic renewal and reform remains the cornerstone of this Commission. The next six months will see the launch of concrete steps which turn the revitalised Lisbon Agenda into reality. The mid-term review of the Lisbon Agenda is behind us. Now is the time for action at both the European and national level.

Member States will present their national reform programmes this October. These will set out in detail the principal measures they are taking to support our programme for growth and jobs.

The Commission, for its part, will present a Community reform programme over the summer. This will set out the different priority actions, both legislative and financial, which need to be adopted or decided upon at the European level in support of the Lisbon Agenda.

Naturally our ambitions on Lisbon will be tempered to a greater or lesser extent by the final outcome on the financial perspectives negotiations. It is regrettable that the heaviest cuts to the current negotiating box fall on precisely that Heading which most supports Lisbon-related policies. I think that would not have happened if the so called 1% club of countries had not fought to reduce Europe's ambitions. But there is now a real urgency to get an agreement to avoid paralysis in the Union beyond 2006. Paralysis which will have a negative effect on our policies and on Member States - particularly the new ones. And the new members of the EU expect and deserve concrete action, not just words, on solidarity. That is why we must base further efforts on the existing proposals and the work of the Luxembourg Presidency. This does not mean that we should abandon the search for a better balanced budget reflecting a good compromise between existing spending on our tried-and-tested policies, and our new policy agenda for growth and jobs. That is why I called for a review clause even before the European Council. We need a review clause because we can't know exactly what the world will be like in 2013. Given the urgency, it's not reasonable to put everything into question now. But what is reasonable is to approve the Financial Perspectives now, and accept a review clause during the period of those Financial Perspectives so that we can adapt the priorities, the structure of expenditure, of resources, to the changing circumstances.

Responsibility now lies with the UK Presidency to ensure that this is brought to a rapid conclusion, and the Commission is ready to work with it and the other Member States to do this.

One core area of the Lisbon Agenda is Better Regulation . It is not by chance that the first major Commission initiative to implement the revised Lisbon strategy was the March Communication on Better Regulation for Growth and Jobs. In that context, we have called for closer collaboration between the EU and Member States. The UK Presidency's contribution will be essential to the success of this process.

We also need this Parliament and the Council of Ministers to make renewed efforts to ensure the quality and workability of the rules you adopt. A first target must be agreement next month on a common approach to impact assessment across all three Institutions.

In our bid to cut down on red tape and unnecessary administrative burdens, we are now reviewing proposals that were tabled by preceding Commissions but which have not yet been adopted by the legislator. Our objective is to ensure that pending proposals are in line with our Lisbon priorities. Some 200 pending proposals are under examination. In early autumn, we will conclude whether these should remain on the table, be amended, or simply thrown out.

Finally, in October the Commission will present the next phase of its simplification programme, setting out a work programme for 2006 and 2007.

Another priority I would like to pick out from the many priorities jostling for attention is Africa . I have always said that Africa should be a flagship issue of this Commission. We got off to a good start with our April package of proposals aimed at accelerating EU progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, and giving priority to sub-Saharan Africa. I regret that the European Council's agreement to our proposals went unnoticed in all the drama of the last week. This agreement provides the UK Presidency with a solid basis for defending the European Union's position in the important events which mark 2005 as the year of development, particularly the UN Summit in September. I would like to congratulate the UK on making Africa a priority for its EU and G8 Presidencies, as this will give a welcome extra boost to ongoing activities at the EU level.

This autumn, for example, the Commission will present an EU strategy for Africa, which will put flesh on the bones of its `Focus on Africa'. This focus aims to accelerate EU action in three key areas: governance, interconnection and equity.

In order to give a decisive incentive for the reform of Africa's governance , the Commission proposes to support the implementation of reforms triggered by the Africa Peer Review Mechanism. The Commission also proposes a replenishment of the Peace Facility so as to provide the African Union with the necessary financial muscle to cope with Africa's conflicts. We are already supporting the AU mission in Darfur, for example.

I am pleased that the British Presidency will maintain the momentum on climate change . This is a top issue for the EU. Not only must we live up to our commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, we must also start intensifying discussions on the international climate policy regime post-2012.

A post-2012 framework must build on five elements:

• The participation of all major emitting nations;
• The use of market-based instruments;
• The inclusion of more sectors, such as international aviation and shipping;
• The development and use of new technologies; and
• Support to enable the poorest and worst-affected countries to adapt effectively to climate change.

December's UN Conference on Climate Change in Montreal will be an important staging post in this debate.

Also in December, and this is the last priority I would like to touch on, is the WTO Ministerial in Hong Kong. It is crucial that we spare no effort in making this a success. Only then can we hope to bring the Doha Development Agenda to a speedy and successful conclusion, which is the key to greater prosperity not only for our own citizens but also those in developing countries.

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President Borrell

Prime Minister Blair

Honourable Members

The UK Presidency will see the launch of the period of reflection called for by the European Council. We must look within ourselves for a new consensus, and strive to regain the confidence of our citizens. But we must also look outwards , towards our global responsibilities and opportunities - in Africa and elsewhere. We must be a generous Europe, of values as well as markets.

My Europe, the Europe I want to be part of, is big enough to do both these things. I look forward to working closely with the UK Presidency to prove this.

Thank you.