By Brian Johnson and Filipe Rufino - 15th March 2007
The EU must press on with bold reforms if it wants to harness globalisation, the European parliament’s president Hans-Gert Poettering has warned.
The German MEP made the warning as Europe’s business chiefs gather in Brussels for the annual European Business Summit on Thursday.
Writing in the latest issue of the Parliament Magazine, Poettering says the timing of this week’s business summit, as Europe’s leaders gear up to celebrate the EU’s 50th birthday in Berlin next week, should help EU capitals focus on the EU’s key jobs and growth priorities.
“The fifth European Business Summit takes places at a crucial time for Europe. On the one hand we are celebrating the achievements of the European project over the last 50 years,” says Poettering, adding, “On the other hand we need to reflect about the future.”
Poettering argues that if the EU wants to meet its Lisbon strategy goals then it must continue along the route of further EU economic reform and modernisation.
“Globalisation presents us with both challenges and opportunities. If the past 50 years have shown us anything, they have shown us that we Europeans have the capacity to adapt, survive, rebuild and grow.”
“We must harness this ability to make ourselves fit for globalisation.”
“I am deeply convinced that we are in need of continued reform. We must ensure that the EU of 27 member states has the right capacity to act and to continue bringing added-value to the citizens. The key tool for reform is the Lisbon Strategy.”
And Poettering says Europe must continue to lead on climate change.
“We cannot exchange short-term economic gain for long-term economic suicide. Tough decisions are required in this area as with the Lisbon reforms.”
“Both are comparable. Some amount of sectoral pain now can bring about a more sustainable future for the whole economy.”
Short-term resistance to strict binding targets on emissions and energy generation is to be expected says Poettering.
But he believes that the long-term benefits such as innovative new products and first mover technology will win out in the end.
“Europe has the potential to be the global leader in a range of new technologies that are waiting to be developed as part of the combat of climate change.”
“The motto of this year's Business Summit is "Reform to Perform" and reform is never easy.”
“But we must keep up the pace of reform, including within the EU institutions and how we legislate, if we want to reach the goal of a European economy that is at peak performance, ready to take on the competition in every sector.”
Read Hans-Gert Poettering's full Parliament Magazine article here.
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