Toespraak van de Belgische premier bij de overdracht van het Europees voorzitterschap (en)

Speech by His Excellency Yves Leterme Prime Minister of Belgium at the start of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union - Budapest, January 6, 2010

Mr Prime Minister Excellencies Ladies and Gentlemen This parliament, this city are really symbolic places to hand over the presidency of the European Union. In 1956 the Hungarian citizens. showed their attachment to liberty by their revolt against tyranny and foreign occupation. The revolt was crushed in blood, but the spirit remained. In this city, in 1989, the first breach was made in the Wall that so artificially divided Europe. We still remember the scenes of exultant joy as that Wall finally came down. It was the joy of freedom regained. It was the joyous expectancy of a new Europe, a Europe whole and free. Now, less than a quarter of a century later, the European Union covers a large part of our continent. Five more countries are candidates to become members and more are knocking at the door. It is important to remember all this, for this is what the European Union is about. The EU is not just a market. The Union is first and foremost an idea, a common commitment to peace, to democracy, to freedom. But ideas and values need institutions to make them work, to put them into practice. For many years, the Union was absorbed in introspection and institutional debate. With the Treaty of Lisbon, we have strengthened our institutions, and we could finally put this phase of introspection behind us. I am glad to say that during the last six month, we, all of us together, put the Union in dynamic motion again. I think I can say that our recipe for the presidency has yielded results. We had two main guidelines. First, we embedded the programme of the Belgian presidency in the European agenda. Secondly, we worked closely with all the partners involved, the President of the European Council, the Commission, the High Representative, the Parliament and, of course, the Member States. We paid particular attention to the increased powers of the Parliament under the new rules. It is this extensive cooperation which put the Union on the move again. An important factor too was the excellent teamwork of the trio formed by Spain, Belgium and Hungary. The trio is contributing to creating a shared philosophy and is ensuring continuity from one presidency to another. So I am sure that the Hungarian presidency will keep up the good work now that the Union is on the move again. A lot has been accomplished these last six months. But so much more remains to be done. I very much welcome the four priorities of the Hungarian Presidency especially the focus on Growth and Employment for preserving the European social model. Only if Europe is able to reconnect with growth we can evolve towards a stronger Union. The strategy is well known, now we have to focus on the execution and realization of this EU2020 strategy. Our governments will be judged on their ability to create jobs for all their citizens. The European Union offers us an incredible leverage which has not been adequately put into force until now. Let’s anew the spirit of entrepreneurs and develop common industrial projects, infrastructure networks and innovative services. It will fall to the Hungarian presidency to give a strong impetus to the EU2020 strategy through the concrete implementation of its flagships. Together with all of you, I also welcome the choice to devote the next European Council on the 4th of February to Energy and Innovation. Those two domains are indeed crucial and key for the green and creative future of our continent. Providing secure energy at affordable prices is more than ever a geostrategic issue. The Union will only benefit from Hungary’s particular experience and expertise to make substantial progress on very specific topics such as infrastructure networks, energy efficiency and common regulation. All this in service of the development of a low carbon economy. Innovation is not less crucial. The EU has more than ever to evolve towards creativity and knowledge. Only through people and brains can we compete with the dynamism of the emerging economies. May I, on this occasion, stress once again the importance of the EU-patent. If Europe is not able to deliver on concrete issues such as this, we will definitively miss the train of competitiveness. I am fully confident in the Hungarian Presidency to show further results. The excesses of the market we suffered in 2008 and the attacks on the euro are far from forgotten. We came up with the right answers. But the economic governance is far from complete. Hungary is not yet a member of the euro zone. However it is in the interest of all the member states that the euro should remain a stable currency. So I know that also the Hungarian presidency will take this goal at heart. Allow me to focus on a last priority namely the implementation of The Stockholm Program. Migration is as old as mankind itself. Common regulation and solidarity must remain the guidelines of the Union’s policy. Here as well the Hungarian Presidency can make concrete progress. I feel confident in passing on the baton to Hungary. As I said, the Hungarian people have often manifested their attachment to liberty. And they have contributed to our European House as we know it today. I feel sure that, at the end of the coming six months, the newly found European dynamism will be stronger than ever. Allow me then to congratulate Hungary with it’s very first European presidency. I wish you all possible success. Szeretném, ha minden lehetséges sikert. Foto : © Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU - Photographer: Gergely Botár