FEATURE ITEM

 

Prepared and Distributed by the Polonia Media Network

 

SPEECH BY JOSEPH DAUL,

EUROPEAN PEOPLES PARTY (EPP) CHAIRMAN

IN THE PARLIAMENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

“THE RESULTS OF THE POLISH PRESIDENCY"

_{December 14, 2012 – Translated from French}

 

Dear Presidents, Dear Colleagues,

 

Dear Donald Tusk, on the 6th of July in this very House you expressed your intention to re-inject some enthusiasm in Europe, reinforced by the record popularity of Europe in your country.

 

On July 6, you delivered your vision of a Europe which is proud of its values, of its successes, an inclusive Europe, a Europe confident of its capacity to influence the world.

 

I share this vision, as does my Group, and we want to put it into practice.

 

Ironically, the current crisis could be an opportunity for Europeans to be enthusiastic once again, to bounce back, as long as we can adapt, as long as we can change our habits and our working methods. 

 

President of the Council, this is what you, with your government, have helped us do throughout your presidency.

 

Let me take three examples.

 

The first example is the economic governance 6-pack.

 

By working in close cooperation with the European Parliament on an ambitious package for the sound management of national public finances, the Polish Presidency has shown that the Community method and efficiency can work very well together.

 

Similarly, progress on the supervision of financial markets is down to this Presidency.

 

More generally, Poland is working with the European Institutions to promote the idea that sharing economic sovereignty between the 17+, Poland being one of these “+” countries, is the safest way out of the crisis.

 

The second example is neighborhood policy.

 

Whether it is on the Eastern front, with the signature last week of the Croatian accession, with the launch in September of the Eastern Partnership, with the preparation of the Association Agreement with Ukraine, or on the Mediterranean front, with European support for the democratic process currently underway, the Polish Presidency has worked with great influence and I thank you for that.