By José Manuel Barroso
President of the European Commission
Presentation of the Working
programme of the German Presidency
European Parliament
Let me first welcome Chancellor Merkel and wish her and her team all success for their Presidency, and also welcome Hans Gert Pöttering to his new seat. You will both enjoy the full support of the Commission.
2007 is a crucial year. Our 50th anniversary is a time to celebrate past achievements, and to build on those achievements to the benefit of a new generation of Europeans. A generation for whom Europe’s original rationale is in the past, but for whom
It is a happy coincidence that the anniversary falls during the German Presidency. Many of our core policies – the euro, cohesion, the internal market, enlargement – owe much to
The German Presidency offers an opportunity to demonstrate why the European Union matters so much in the age of globalisation. Let us take the March European Council. The Commission’s proposals last week on energy and climate change form a central part of the
These are issues which touch the lives of every European. Where
What must be agreed at the European Council in March?
Firstly, the strategic goal of agreement by developed countries to cut their emissions by 30% by 2020, essential to ensure that global temperatures exceed pre-industrial levels by no more than 2°C.
Secondly, three pillars to deliver our objectives of sustainable, secure and competitive energy.
A single market in practice as well as on paper, to give real choice to EU energy users and to trigger investment. This will require a clearer separation of energy production from energy distribution, and stronger independent regulatory control with a European dimension.
The Commission also makes proposals on improved interconnections, on transparency, and on a new Customers’ Energy Charter.
A 20% target for energy efficiency by 2020, with detailed proposals for how to get there.
A new drive for clean energy, through a binding commitment to triple renewable energy use by 2020; a 50% annual increase in the energy research budget; and commitments to advance clean hydrocarbon technology. There is a role for the European Institute of Technology in this.
It is essential to hear the Parliament’s voice on these issues in the run up to the March European Council. The EU could find no better way to launch its anniversary than by showing its ambitions for the future.
This is the first part of the twin track approach, of policy delivery for Europe’s citizens, alongside working towards an constitutional settlement; starting with the
The Berlin Declaration is an opportunity for the Member States to commit themselves to the values and aims of the European Union.
It must look forward and deliver a political statement about the
It provides an opportunity for the twelve member states that joined in 2004 and 2007 to contribute, as full members, to the vision of our common future.
It is appropriate that the Declaration, a declaration for the future of Europe, will be signed in
What should this Declaration say? I think today’s leaders should stand on the shoulders of the founding fathers, and look ahead to the next 50 years. To the challenges which could not be imagined in 1957 but which
I have five concrete proposals for the Declaration.
(i) Solidarity. An enlarged and open
(ii) Sustainability. The fight against climate change, through energy and other policies, should be a defining mission for
(iii) Accountability. Transparency and access to information should become not only rights for European citizens but also obligations for
(iv) Security.
(v) Promote
Chancellor, Honourable members.
Five specific suggestions for the
But we need not just the road map. We need the settlement; to clear the clouds of doubt which hang over parts of
We cannot build tomorrow’s
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