Barroso pleit voor een gepolitiseerder Europa, en wil dat regeringen 'voorbij' de EU-grondwet kijken (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Fresh back from a pep talk on Europe with his fellow commissioners, president Jose Manuel Barroso i on Wednesday (21 September) made the case for a more political Europe.

Arguing that more Europe is needed rather than less as the bloc faces the double problem of globalisation coupled with its own internal budget and constitution issues, Mr Barroso said "I want a political Europe".

He indicated that the extraordinary meeting of commissioners had reaffirmed Brussels' commitment to prosperity, solidarity and security.

But in a speech where he essentially urged member states not to sit back on their laurels, he noted that Europe "must be put back to work".

"It's not the commission alone that can get Europe to work", he added.

Mr Barroso said that he and other commissioners would travel to member states to meet governments, MPs and social partners in order to listen to what people have to say in the member states.

"This should not be a bureaucratic or technocratic exercise, it has to be a political venture", said the commission president.

Looking beyond the constitution

As part of Europe's new fresh approach, Mr Barroso also urged politicians to look beyond the EU constitution, rejected by France and the Netherlands earlier this year, saying there will not be a constitution for the bloc for at least two or three years.

Some politicians don't like to face facts," said Mr Barroso. "There won't be a constitutional treaty in the near future."

He indicated that he was irritated with the perception beyond the EU that the bloc has ground to halt because there is no agreement on the constitution.

The president, who is heading the commission at a time when Europe is wondering how to respond to globalisation, said the only response can be a European one as no member state can tackle the phenomenon alone.

He also used Wednesday's speech after the brainstorming session with his colleagues to push the case for more liberalisation in Europe.

The commission is to push ahead with the proposed law to open the market in services, the cause of so much controversy in the debate preceding the French referendum on the constitution.

Answering accusations that he just wants to have economic integration for Europe, rather than political integration, Mr Barroso said that the one cannot exist without the other.

The commission president, who was Portugal's former prime minister, also said that the commission would work on its contribution to next month's informal meeting of EU leaders so there is a "genuine debate on the economic and social challenges" facing the bloc in the coming years.