Former Eurogroup chief, Jeroen Dijsselbloem believes that the most important issues for the EU are currently not the euro or the economy but security and migration.
He agrees with French President Emmanuel Macron that Europeans need to raise their defence spending and work together.
Dijsselbloem was addressing an event in Nicosia marking 25 years since the establishment of the Cyprus Centre for European and International Affairs of the University of Nicosia.
“The most important issues for the EU are currently not the euro or the economy, but security and migration…these are issues require European cooperation.”
According to Dijsselbloem: “Germany will have to accept the fact that it is a large country and therefore has an important role to play.”
He spoke on mistakes that were made in the past, noting that “in order to create free movement we took away the inside border controls, without securing the outside borders.”
On the refugee quota mechanism, he expressed the view that “central-European member states will never accept this.”
“Migration and security are key issues right now, top of the list for electorates in almost all countries now. It is a key driver of populism,” Dijsselbloem said.
“The position of the US, China and Russia should increase our sense of urgency. We need a European strategy, so the EU is no longer just an economic power but also becomes a political power.”
On the monetary union, his key advice was “let’s finish what we started”, while “clearing out the remaining legacy issues.”
He called for the completion of the banking union, including a backstop to the resolution fund and a European deposit insurance scheme.
He also said that the capital markets union project should also be pushed forward. “Brexit should increase our sense of urgency on this topic.”
Dijsselbloem said there was a need to develop the ESM further.
“Allowing them to step in and support member-states in a situation of an adverse economic shock.”
“In order to take next steps in strengthening EMU we need trust between member states and in our institutions.”
Trust, he added, is honed hand in hand with responsibility. “With governments living up to the commitments made to the Eurozone.”
And trust, “in our common institutions that they will respect what has been agreed and apply it fairly and evenly to all member states, large and small.”
“We cannot build a community without all of us also taking responsibility for the interests of the community as a whole.”
According to the Dutch politician “blaming Europe for the many flaws in our national economies, legal systems or domestic political governance will bring us nothing but a populist backlash.”
“National politicians need to take their responsibilities and that includes sometimes confronting the electorates with the real issues at steak and the difficult choices to be made.”
Dijsselbloem also stressed that “Europe has a major role to play in some issues. Security and migration is certainly one. Dealing with the climate issue is another.”
“As the external environment of our union is becoming more and more challenging, the EU will have to lead. As our electorates are becoming more and more impatient, the worst thing to do is to let populism paralyze us.”
“It’s time to act; It’s time to show results,” he added.
