Europarlementariërs debatteren met voorzitter EU Sarkozy (en)

MEPs in Strasbourg debated the six-month French Presidency of the EU which comes to an end on 31 December. Many group leaders welcomed President Sarkozy's and the French government's swift and successful reaction to events in Georgia, and the rapid reaction to the economic and financial crises. Other political group leaders criticised the French Presidency for backing down on the climate change package and for pushing forward with the Lisbon ratification despite the initial No in Ireland.

Sarkozy: "Europe is not the enemy of nations and nations are not the enemy of Europe"

In a wide-ranging review of the work done under the French presidency of the EU over the last six months, President Nicolas Sarkozy i told the House that France had sought to organise the work of its presidency on the basis of "two convictions: that the world needs a strong Europe and that Europe cannot be strong if it is not united". A strong Europe was one that "rejects consensus based on pushing problems to one side".

Georgia

Turning to the many challenges faced during his government's tenure of the EU presidency, Mr Sarkozy spoke first of the Georgian crisis, where his main aim had been "to stop the war and not fall into the same trap as in Bosnia", where the USA had taken the lead and Europe followed. It had been a "real obsession" of France's presidency that Europe should "take responsibility" over Georgia and fortunately Europe had remained united over the issue.

Financial crisis

In the global financial crisis, too, unity had been crucial and a European recovery plan had been agreed.  If Europe's countries and institutions had not taken responsibility, this would have led to "the destruction of the European banking system". Arguing that "we in Europe want entrepreneurial capitalism not speculative capitalism" and that "we have said this with one voice", he added "our economies and our political cultures are not the same but we all agreed in the end".

Mediterranean Union

The Mediterranean Union was another project where compromise had proved crucial, and would provide a way to ensure that Europe plays a part in the Middle East. The EU, he believed, "must cease to be just a fund provider and must have a say in the peace process". 

Climate change and energy

Mr Sarkozy told the House that "we had an enormous fight" about climate change and energy because "each Member State had reason for dissatisfaction". Here too, compromises had been accepted. Unanimity had been important to ensure that any deal would be implemented and he added that "the European Parliament's determination to get an agreement was a powerful factor in securing a deal" among the governments.

Immigration, defence

Negotiation and compromise over migration policy had been essential since most EU countries are in the Schengen area and Mr Sarkozy was glad that "now we have the foundations for a common immigration policy".  Similarly, on defence, he said, referring to next year's NATO summit, "the 27 must understand that European security and defence policy is complementary to NATO".

Lastly, turning to the "constitutional question", he pointed out that the Czech constitutional court had just indicated that the Lisbon Treaty ratification process could go ahead.  This left Ireland. He emphasised that as part of a compromise every country would have a Commissioner and Ireland would have guarantees for its neutrality, fiscal independence and family law.  He hoped for a positive result from a fresh referendum by the end of 2009.

It's easier for Europe to have big ambitions than small ones

In conclusion, Mr Sarkozy said Europe required an understanding between different nations, though he stressed he was not an integrationist but he was determined to preserve the nation state. Nevertheless, "however European you are, Europe is not the enemy of the nations and the nations are not the enemy of Europe".  Above all, he believed "it is easier for Europe to have big ambitions than small ones, because only big projects have the power to overcome national egos".

European Commission President

President of the European CommissionJosé Manuel  BARROSO i said: "The balance sheet of the last EU summit will go down in history - rarely has Europe been able to express its satisfaction at so many positive results". And he welcomed the essential partnership between the Parliament, Council and Commission, which meant that we can now speak of a 'new era' in Europe.  With tomorrow's vote on the climate change package, "the European Parliament holds the last key to the last door enabling a Europe of the 21st century to start working".

With the climate change initiatives, Europe will be the first to accept legally binding rules by 2020 and we will be strengthening these limits as agreement is reached globally. We can now turn to our friends in America and say to them: " Yes, you can!"

Mr Barroso also gave an insight into some of the measures that lie ahead.  He spoke of advance payments being made available so that Member States would have early access to €1.9bn;  he spoke of €5bn  for 2009-2010 to be re-allocated to Trans-European Energy networks, broadband infrastructure projects and energy efficiency; and on state aid, while announcing an extension of exemptions on state aid rules, he insisted that this should not be used as a pretext for suspending competition rules and reiterated the need for keeping internal market rules if a European response to the crisis was to be maintained.

Political group speakers

For the EPP-ED group, Chairman Joseph Daul (FR) saluted the French Presidency's efforts, which he said, had helped to win worldwide respect for Europe's policies on climate change and immigration, and its co-ordinated response to the financial crisis.

The Presidency's sang-froid and pragmatism illustrate the centre-right philosophy that guided the joint responses of Council, Commission and Parliament to the financial crisis, brought about co-ordinated protection for savers' deposits and recapitalisation for banks, and thus prevented a chain reaction in which thousands of jobs could have been lost, he continued, stressing that it is the social market economy that guarantees balance between management and the workforce.

Mr Daul also paid tribute to the Presidency for the outcome of the climate change negotiations - this complex agreement among 27 Member States would protect both the environment and jobs he said, adding that the EU must now lead the worldwide fight against climate change, press the worst polluters to act, and seek tangible commitments from President Obama.

The Union needs more political stability and more effective decision-taking and the Lisbon Treaty offers "the tools to finish the job", he concluded.

"You changed Europe, but Europe has changed you, too" said PES Chairman Martin Schulz (DE) to Mr Sarkozy, whom, he added, had "come out of the closet, as a pro-European".

The Presidency had been "quite good" overall, said Mr Schulz, noting that the climate change package in particular had been a "huge success", on which Parliament's rapporteurs, with just 3-5 workers each (compared to the "Commission's 22,000", had done a "top notch" job. As social democrats, "we sought a balance between economic necessity and ecological obligation", he said.

The Presidency also "did well" on the financial crisis, he said, noting that Mr Sarkozy had reacted, albeit "somewhat late" to the time-bomb of social imbalances in Europe.

"We still don't have the Lisbon Treaty, and what you have decided will not help, unless an Irish leader points out to the people that the response to the financial crisis has been a European success", said Mr Schulz, thanking the French Presidency for helping Europe to "make progress".

The Presidency had some a "fairy tale" qualities, noted Graham Watson (ALDE, UK) for the Liberal Democrats, citing inter alia its riding to the rescue of "our lady of Georgia" and welcoming the "Cinderella of London" to the ball.

The Presidency had not chosen its challenges, but had tackled them with energy, enthusiasm and creativity, he said, praising its efforts to restore market confidence, and parry protectionism. The "concessions" agreed on state aid and public procurement are reasonable, if taken with the Presidency's commitment to accompany them with Lisbon Strategy structural reforms, he added.

Liberal Democrats urge the Council to cut VAT now on energy saving and renewable energy equipment, so as to help industry and the environment. They also welcome the renewed commitment to sustainable public finances and a rapid return to medium-term budgetary targets, he said, adding that "our response to the recession must be based on solidarity and sound economics".

The Presidency appears to have found a practical answer to Ireland’s worries about the new treaty - it may not be elegant, but it is worthy of Henry IV: "Si Paris valait une messe, Dublin vaut un commissaire", he said.

On climate change, "a blizzard of corporate concessions has been written into the Council conclusions", and "cap and trade emissions permits will be given away when they should have been auctioned". Derogations like these will "push down the cost of carbon, cut the cash raised and makes the emission targets harder to hit", said Mr Watson, who nonetheless welcomed the agreements on energy saving, earmarking half the revenues from emissions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and on carbon capture and storage.

Daniel Cohn-Bendit for the Greens/EFA said: "Presidents - Yes we do acknowledge your desire to move forward. Yes you want Europe to progress, Nicolas the first came in 2008 to the parliament; that unanimity kills democracy. We were astounded. You reduce the parliament to a kind of government Viagra. That is not our role. Nobody has said they want a Europe that is against the nations. We represent the peoples in this house and if you come to get the Lisbon Treaty ratified, then unanimity kills democracy. Mrs Merkel was here when she stood down and just heeded the German interests and not European. We won't accept any blackmail; yes I think the first reading is blackmail.

Mr Obama will say to you, no you cannot! The recovery plan is not sufficient, there is not enough money going with it. Our policy to China was that we shouldn't humiliate the Chinese, but I say that they walked all over you! I'm proud we haven't bowed under the Chinese for every day them trample human rights. We're saying no, it has to be spelt out No."

Cristiana Muscardini UEN said "We are the union for the Europe as nations- look at the ability to steer us through the economic crisis, look we have given support to a presidency which has repositioned Europe at the centre of the world debate. We must look at our institutions. Crises cannot be solved by the central banks. The climate package has been a major success; we must go down this road to peace and prosperity particular in the Mediterranean. We talk about equal treatment by means of the pension age; we need to look at wage equality before we go any further. You said this crisis is a systemic crisis, so we are with you to get reforms of the system. We must make sure that manufacturing is more important than plastic. "

Francis Wurtz GUE/NGL said "We will stand by this French presidency. We will remember it because of the seriousness of the events of this half year. Yet we see policies creeping in which we do not need. We need to underscore the importance for the EU that there is a compromise that has been reached between the 27. This is not a historic agreement. Does it risk in letting the big players off the hook for damage to the environment? Only a small share of Europe's emissions will be tackled outside of the Union. If this model becomes the general model then we will miss some of the clear objectives that the scientific and world community has set.

I think to mind this is counter productive where consumption is falling and jobs are being cut, where social worries are now rising to the surface, so it is recovery for who? One state increases purchasing power and the other does not. Why is there not systematic control so there is a fair management of resources so we can create useful jobs for society?

My group will not be congratulating the pressure used by the council on the Irish people. You cannot treat them this way. You have to listen to them and understand them. When things are on the table you have to deal with them."

For the IND/DEM group, Nigel Farage (UK) complimented the French presidency on its "energy and dynamism" but was unhappy that its goal was "more power for the Union".  He then complained of what he described as "an appalling attack on President Klaus" by Green group leader Daniel Cohn-Bendit at the recent meeting in Prague of EP political group leaders with the president of the Czech Republic ahead of that country's assumption of the EU presidency in January.  In particular he accused Mr Cohn-Bendit of behaving like "a thug and a bully" towards Mr Klaus and said "Danny the libertarian is now Danny the authoritarian".

Bruno Gollnisch (NA, FR ) for the non-aligned MEPs, believed the current financial crisis showed the Union is "not fit for purpose", since solutions would have been best found at national or at global level.  The energy and climate change package had been "emasculated", and the EU immigration legislation had been undermined by Italy's action in granting a mass regularisation of immigrants "when the ink was barely dry". On Lisbon Treaty, Mr Gollnisch felt we were witnessing a form of "servitude" of the people, with the same question being put time and again until the right result was obtained.