Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2011-03-23-Speech-3-068-000"
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"en.20110323.17.3-068-000"2
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"Mr President, President Barroso, Commissioner, honourable Members, I very much welcome the opportunity to appear before you in advance of the next meeting of the European Council. As you know, it will be a very intensive meeting due to the unforeseen events of the last couple of weeks.
The fourth is the pact for the euro, its extension to Member States outside the euro area who wish to join it, and possible announcement of the first national action plans to implement it.
The fifth element is finalisation of the work on the future of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and on strengthening the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), building on the agreement in the Eurogroup Plus ministerial meeting on 21 March, and you all know that the terms of reference of the European Stability Mechanism mention the fact that information will be provided to Parliament. I was especially pleased about that.
The sixth element is the Treaty amendment, on which you have just voted, and the formal adoption of the decisions amending the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union with regard to the setting up of the future ESM. I would like to thank Parliament here for this positive vote: I think it was an extremely important contribution on your part.
As you see, real progress has been made in combating the crisis. The European Council will finalise this work at its next meeting and adopt a comprehensive package of measures to respond to the crisis, preserve financial stability and lay the ground for sustainable, job-creating growth.
Let me turn now to Libya and the southern neighbourhood. On the basis of the European Parliament resolution of 10 March 2011, the European Council’s conclusions of 11 March 2011 and UN Security Council Resolution 1973, the Council has expressed its concerns at the present situation in Libya and has condemned the gross and systematic violation of human rights, the violence and brutal repression perpetrated by the regime against the Libyan people.
The EU’s main aims are protection of the civilian population and support for the Libyan people being able to realise their aspirations for a democratic society. Colonel Gaddafi must relinquish power immediately. His regime has lost legitimacy and is no longer an interlocutor for the EU. So what kind of action has the Council taken?
First let me mention the sanctions. On 28 February 2011, in record time, the Council adopted decisions concerning restrictive measures against the regime. On 10 March further sanctions were added, including an asset freeze, a further travel ban, an arms embargo and an embargo on equipment which might be used for internal repression – thus going beyond the measures imposed by the previously adopted UN Security Council resolution.
Let me announce a third element: a third round of sanctions. Acting upon the mandate given by the Foreign Affairs Council on 21 March, the Council has today adopted, by written procedure, the Hungarian Presidency’s proposal to extend restrictive measures to further Libyan individuals and entities, and these sanctions already extend to the national oil company of Libya.
What else did the Council do besides sanctions? The Hungarian Presidency put the question of emergency supply security on the agenda. Ministers discussed the impact of the political crisis on the energy market, energy security and supply. They agreed that the EU has sufficient oil and gas stocks. Nevertheless the discussion highlighted, once again, the vulnerability of Europe and the need for an even stronger common energy policy, including measures such as diversification of supply routes.
The Council expressed its satisfaction after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1973 and underlined its determination to contribute to its implementation. The Council also welcomed the Paris Summit as a decisive contribution to its implementation. By contributing in a differentiated way, the EU and the Member States are determined to act collectively and resolutely with all the international partners, particularly the Arab League and other regional stakeholders, to give full effect to these decisions. The Council and the Member States will support actions under the UN Security Council resolution to protect civilians and civilian population areas under threat of attack.
Let me first run you through the main issues on the agenda of the European Council. There will be three major items: first a comprehensive economic package which, hopefully, will be adopted by the Heads of State and Government; then Libya and the southern neighbourhood; and thirdly Japan.
The EU will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to all those affected, and of course – at a later stage – we will have to help Libya in building a democratic state and developing the rule of law.
The EU is preparing to provide CFSP support and humanitarian assistance in response to a request from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and under the coordinating role of the UN. Such actions will fully respect the UN guidelines on the use of military and civil defence assets. The High Representative has been asked to develop further planning in accordance with the UN resolution and the European Council declaration of 11 March on support for humanitarian assistance and civil protection operations, including the use of maritime resources for this purpose. Everything should be done in the closest possible cooperation with the UN, NATO and others. The High Representative will maintain contacts with the UN Secretary-General and countries in the region, including Egypt and Tunisia, and has stated that this process should be undertaken as a matter of urgency in order to allow further consideration by the European Council by the end of this week.
Furthermore, the Member States have underlined once again their solidarity with those of their number most directly affected by migratory movements, and have reiterated their readiness to provide necessary support as the situation evolves. The Hungarian Presidency put this issue to the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 24 and 25 February 2011, and the joint operation Hermes has been launched under the Frontex framework, with several Member States contributing resources.
Let me mention what has happened on evacuation. As early as 23 February, the Presidency activated the EU’s civil protection mechanism to support the evacuation of EU citizens from Libya – a decision also supported by the High Representative. Inspired by the principle of responsibility to protect, set out in the EP resolution, the Hungarian Presidency is doing its utmost to coordinate the ongoing work, in particular with regard to refugees and migration issues. The Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs, János Martonyi, and Commissioner Malmström are currently visiting Egypt and its common border with Libya. Minister Martonyi has been to the border and talked to the local authorities and, in a statement made there earlier, he said that without the air strikes an unbearable situation would have evolved.
Now the situation is under control, thanks to the Egyptian authorities. For three days, there has been no outflow of people; some Libyans have decided to return but of course the situation is still shaky and we do not know whether there will be further outflows or not.
On 3 March I was at the Tunisian-Libyan border, in the company of Commissioner Georgieva, to see the state of affairs there. The situation was still very serious: 1000 people per hour were entering Tunisia across that border. Evacuation was the most important issue on 3 March, and it is still very important that Member States help with the repatriation of non-EU citizens, mostly migrant workers.
In the absence of a resident European Union delegation, the Hungarian Ambassador in Tripoli has been representing the EU. He is there and will not leave; he coordinates the consular and diplomatic efforts on behalf of the Member States.
On the southern neighbourhood: at its extraordinary meeting on 11 March, the European Council declared that democratic uprisings are bringing dramatic changes to the southern neighbourhood, creating new hope and an opportunity to build a future based on democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, human rights and social justice. It has to be stated that aggression is taking place not only in Libya: we should be aware that in Bahrain and in Yemen people are also experiencing aggression, and we have to be very clear that aggression is not acceptable anywhere.
It is for the countries in the region to decide their future in a peaceful and democratic way. The EU will support all steps towards democratic transformation to political systems that allow for peaceful changes, growth and prosperity and more proportionate distribution of the benefits of economic performance. The EU will consult with the countries of the region that are concerned on financial and technical support for improving the control and management of borders, as well as measures to facilitate the return of migrants to their countries of origin.
The Council, in cooperation with the Commission, was invited to submit – before the June European Council – a plan for the development of capacities to manage migration and refugee flows. The European Council broadly welcomed the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative proposing a partnership for democracy and shared prosperity in the southern Mediterranean, following a differentiated and incentive-based approach and bringing together all EU instruments. The Council was invited rapidly to examine the proposals contained in the communication and, in particular, to consider how the Union’s support for its partners could be enhanced.
Let me start with the economic policy issues. The European Council will, I hope, adopt this package in order to respond to the economic and financial crisis. The package has six major elements, the first being the conclusion of the first phase of the European Semester, with endorsement of the priorities for fiscal consolidation and structural reforms. As you know, the European Semester cycle started early in the year with the presentation of the Commission’s annual growth survey. It brings together various policy recommendations required to strengthen recovery, to help Europe maintain its international competitiveness and to achieve the EU 2020 objectives.
I will conclude with a rapid presentation of the ideas on which very swift action is needed. We have to increase the ceiling for European Investment Bank operations for Mediterranean countries undertaking political reform –Parliament will have a role on this issue and I count on your cooperation. We have to adopt the Commission proposal to allow the EIB to reinvest within the FEMIP funds flowing from past operations. We have to examine, with other stakeholders, conditions under which the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development could operate in the southern neighbourhood, and we have to adopt without delay the proposal on pan-Euro-Mediterranean rules of origin, which is essential for further development of the region. Lastly, adoption by June 2011 of the regulation enhancing the capabilities of Frontex is, I think, a must.
I will stop there. I will not speak on Japan because we now have a new item on the agenda. I am sorry if my speech was a bit too long. The reason is that a lot of things have happened and I wanted Parliament to have a comprehensive picture of all the issues.
The first phase of the European Semester will now be concluded with the endorsement by the European Council of the priorities for fiscal consolidation and structural reform, in line with the conclusions prepared by the ECOFIN and EPSCO Councils. The theme of this report – which was prepared by the Presidency – was welcomed by the General Affairs Council last Monday. Member States will take these broad policy orientations into account when preparing their stability and convergence programmes and the national reform programmes to be submitted in April.
On the basis of the Commission’s assessment, the Council will subsequently provide its assessment and guidance to the Member States in June: that is, at a time when important budgetary decisions are still in a preparatory phase in most Member States. The Hungarian Presidency’s aim is to close the first European Semester by the time of the European Council in June 2011.
The second element is the strengthening of economic governance, and here the European Parliament has a decisive role. The Council has already taken a major step forward: the Ministers for Economic and Financial Affairs have agreed the Council’s general approach in relation to the six legislative proposals on reinforcing economic governance. This achievement enables the Presidency to start negotiations with this Parliament.
As you know, the Council has to observe a deadline set by the European Council – June 2011 – for reaching political agreement on the package. Four out of the six proposals are subject to codecision. We know that the deadline imposed by the European Council does not, by any means, bind the European Parliament, yet I take this solemn opportunity to ask for Parliament’s cooperation so that we can reach political agreement by June. It would send reassuring messages to the markets and, most importantly, to our citizens who expect us to safeguard the euro and the European economy with it. So we have a common responsibility with the European Parliament in this matter.
Our Prime Minster is about to meet the rapporteurs and the coordinators who are responsible for this package and I hope that we will have extremely fruitful cooperation with Parliament.
The third element is the restoration of the health of the banking sector through the ambitious new stress test."@en1
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