Portugal’s EU presidency plans presented to parliament

STRASBOURG: The new Portuguese presidency’s ambitious six-month programme has been met with warm support from parliament’s main political groups, though no one doubts the challenges ahead.

Portuguese prime minister Jose Socrates stated clearly in Strasbourg Wednesday morning that his country’s presidency of the EU would focus on treaty reform, modernising Europe’s economy and strengthening the EU’s global role through summits with Africa and Brazil.

“The following six months will mark the end of the deadlocks and blockages that have held the European project for so long,” declared Socrates.

“And the main challenge is clearly that of picking up the treaty reform process, based on the mandate adopted by the European council.”

This point was stressed by leaders of parliament’s main political groups, who were largely in agreement about the critical nature of the next six months.

“My group welcomes the Portuguese presidency,” said EPP-ED chairman Joseph Daul.

“The will to build shows that the Portuguese presidency is following in the footsteps of the German presidency. For the EPP group, treaty reform, security and growth are the important pillars of your presidency.”

Daul said that while it was critical to finalise reform treaties, the presidency should not ignore the issue of security. “We must coordinate anti-terrorist action, he said.

Socialist group chairman Martin Schulz emphasised parliament’s consensus on the issue of treaty reform.

“We are realists,” he said. “What has been negotiated in the mandate isn’t everything we would have liked, but we need to support the efforts that have been made.

“I noticed that the EPP group thinks along the same lines as us, and I think everyone should support what you (Socrates) have just said.”
Schulz also stressed the need to revitalise the whole Lisbon process and the need to involve Latin America in solving global problems, priorities identified by the Portuguese presidency.

ALDE chairman Graham Watson echoed his colleagues’ sentiments on the need for treaty reform, and said that his group welcomed the move to open discussion on flexicurity.

“Let us protect workers, not uncompetitive jobs,” he said.

Responding to Socrates, European commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said that the programme of the Portuguese presidency was ambitious and demanding. “It is not just limited to the IGC – it includes external relations and the renewal of the Lisbon agenda,” he said.

“It is with great satisfaction that I see particular attention will be paid to the Lisbon strategy.”

Socrates concluded that he was pleased to see parliament’s political consensus on major issues. “All of us believe in the European project,” he said. “It is a matter of pride to lead the European union in this.”

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