Barroso outlines EU programme for next 12 months

By Martin Banks - 7th September 2010

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European commission president José Manuel Barroso has setout the executive's plans for the coming 12 months in his first 'state of theunion' address to MEPs.

Speaking in parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday, Barroso called for theEU to "fast-track" its reform agenda.

He said each member state was in the "same boat"and they would "swim together" or "sink separately".

While the former Portuguese PM accepted that the EUinstitutions were still "bedding down" following implementation ofthe Lisbon treaty, he said Europenow faced its "moment of truth".

In a wide-ranging speech, that was punctuated by applausefrom MEPs, he set out a raft of possible legislative proposals the commissionintended to table in the coming months.

But arguably the most positive reaction came in his remarksabout immigration and the rights of women in other countries.

He said a "fundamental dimension”" of the EU was"building an area of freedom, security and justice".

"Legal migrants will find in Europea place where human values are respected and enforced," he said.

"At the same time, we will crack down on the exploitationof illegal immigrants within Europe and at ourborders.

"Everyone in Europemust respect the law and governments must respect human rights, including thoseof minorities. Racism and xenophobia have no place in Europe.

"On such sensitive issues, when a problem arises, wemust act with responsibility. I make a strong appeal not to reawaken the ghostsof Europe’s past."

Some will interpret that as a reference to the currentfurore in Franceabout its treatment of Roma people.

He also drew widespread applause after expressing"shock" at the stoning to death of a woman in Iran foradultery.

He branded the sentence on Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani as"barbaric beyond words" saying, "We must condemn such acts whichhave no justification under any moral or religious code."

Aside from foreign affairs issues, he identified five keychallenges for the EU, including restoring jobs and growth, saying thecommission would next month set out how to "deepen" the single marketin a "comprehensive and ambitious" single market act.

"Over the next year, we will bring forward an energyaction plan, an infrastructure package and an energy efficiency plan," hetold deputies.

On the future of the EU budget after 2013, he was applaudedafter he called for "new sources of financing for major Europeaninfrastructure projects".

He would, he said, propose the establishment of EU projectbonds, together with the European investment bond.

Another challenge was to ensure that the EU "pulls itsweight on the global stage" not just economically, as at present, but inother ways.

He warned that if the EU's member states did not "acttogether" the world would "move on" without it.

On the current economic situation, he said Europehad "withstood" the worst of the downturn, adding, "The economicoutlook today is better than one year ago not in the least as a result of ourdetermined action. But our work is not finished. We must accelerate our reformagenda."

Rounding up his 30-minute speech, Barroso said, "At theend of the day we are all in the same boat.

"The EU will not achieve its objectives without themember states. And the member states will not achieve their objectives in theworld without the EU."