By Martin Banks - 3rd September 2009
I strongly welcome the presentation of these guidelines
Jerzy Buzek
Parliament's president Jerzy Buzek has welcomed the 'political guidelines' unveiled by commission president José Manuel Barroso.
The 41-page document sets out Barroso's objectives and priorities for a second term as president.
Buzek said, "I strongly welcome the presentation of these guidelines. They provide a valuable point of departure for detailed discussions with the parliament over priorities for the next five-year term.
"The political groups will now be able to hold a serious dialogue with the president about his priorities.
"Barroso's programme deals with a number of important institutional issues - designed to promote closer cooperation between the parliament and the commission - which I have raised in our discussions to date."
Further reaction came from Polish deputy Michal Kaminski, leader of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, who said, "Barroso has presented an ambitious agenda for the next five years and our group looks forward to discussing it with him at our meeting on Monday.
"In the European elections the voters clearly rejected the outdated policies of the socialists. The victory of centre-right parties must not only be reflected in the election of a centre-right politician but also the implementation of a centre-right agenda at the commission.
"Much of the agenda presented by Barroso, such as his focus on completing the single market, is welcome.
"We do not agree with Barroso on everything, but he is by far the most credible and the only electable candidate in the field. Barroso's task now is to build a coalition of centre-right parties that want Europe to focus on those areas where it can play a role such as energy security, the financial crisis, the environment and relations with the EU's neighbours, whilst respecting the sovereignty of the nation state."
EPP leader Joseph Daul said, "Having been plunged into the worst economic crisis in its recent history, the EU must act in unison, in a coordinated fashion, and without protectionism to come out on top.
"This is precisely what Barroso has proposed in his work programme."
He said he fully agrees with Barroso's proposals, "the basis of which is to defend uniquely European values: transparency, tolerance, respect for others, solidarity and social cohesion."
"These values are reflected in the model of a social market economy which the EPP has always defended. And they have never been more relevant than in the period of crisis we are witnessing, which requires solidarity and increased efforts for those worse off," said Daul.
Barroso will discuss his programme with the political groups in the parliament next week.
On 10 September, the conference of presidents (of political groups) will confirm whether to proceed to hold a vote to approve Barroso for a second term. The vote is provisionally scheduled for 16 September in Strasbourg.
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