New CoR chief calls for EU ‘social protection’

Europe should do more to protect its citizens from the effects of globalisation and excessive liberalisation, the new president of the Committee of the Regions has warned.

Michel Delebarre, the Socialist mayor of Dunkirk, was took over the presidency of the consultative body on February 16 after five years serving on the committee.

The outspoken Frenchman is determined to raise the profile of the committee, which he claims is best-placed to address the concerns of Europe’s citizens as it is the institution that is closest to them.

And protecting Europe’s citizens would be the best way to connect with them, he argues, citing the example of the hostile bid for steel maker Arcelor – which threatens 4,500 jobs in Dunkirk.

“It is high time for a genuine French and European industrial policy in a field as essential as steel,” he said.

“Contrary to what a certain European commissioner has claimed, we are convinced that having European champions in the steel industry is still the only way of having a world champion on a European basis.”

Delebarre was criticising EU competition commissioner Neelie Kroes, who claims to be powerless to intervene in the Arcelor case because there are no competition grounds.

In an interview with EUpolitix, Delebarre was highly critical of moves to liberalise European markets at any price.

“I can’t change the fact that the member states are dominated by liberals, that is a result of domestic politics. The same goes for the commission, which is the result of nominations by the member states.”

“The current climate makes people afraid – they are worried that Europe is simply a becoming another word for liberalism. There are many that would willingly do away with what social rights we do have, all in the name of competition.”

Like most French socilalists, Delebarre opposed the services directive compromise agreed by MEPs in Strasbourg on February 16.

“You can go to work in any other EU country but it should not necessarily be at any price. We have to respect the rules of the country of destination, if we want to avoid damaging the entire social model.”

And he argues that Europe would find it easier to connect with its citizens if they felt it was benefiting them on a day-to-day basis.

“If Europe can show it has a credible economic and social model, this would help young people to have more trust in the EU.”

And few institutions are better placed to make the connection between the EU and its citizens than the CoR, he argues.

“It is important that the commission listens to the people on the street, represented by bodies such as the committee of the regions. We represent not only the regions, but the people who live there.”

“We need to be involved much earlier in the decision-making processes, before texts are put forward, so that we can use our experience to sound the alarm or to suggest improvements.”

“We need to make our voice heard at the earliest possible moment, but we need to be clear in what we say and as authoritative as possible.”

For a transcript of the full interview with Michel Delebarre, click here.

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