By Daisy Ayliffe - 13th June 2006
Europe is haunted by the spectre of ‘euro pessimism’ commission president José Manuel Barroso has declared.
Addressing the European parliament ahead of this week’s Brussels summit, Barroso warned MEPs that the EU is in danger of falling into “crisis-philia.”
“There is a spectre haunting Europe – the spectre of euro pessimism,” he said in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
“I am not just talking about traditional pessimism but a pessimism also on the part of convinced Europeans. They are falling into a crisis–philia.”
The commission president accepted that the French and Dutch “no” votes had cast a heavy shadow across Europe – but he insisted there was light at the end of the tunnel.
“I do not see why there is so much pessimism,” he insisted.
“I do not agree the EU is deadlocked – saying that is playing into the hands of those who believe in crisis.”
“Does anyone seriously think we can win confidence back by offering negative messages? It is dangerous for Europe to get drawn in to a dead end – we need to take things forward.”
Socialists and conservatives alike threw their weight behind Barroso’s support for the European constitution.
“You have us on your side,” Socialist group leader Martin Schultz declared.
“You are right to say yes to the constitution and you are right to say Europe needs to go beyond Nice.”
Liberal leader Graham Watson said Europe faced two possibilities – “renegotiation or oblivion.”
“I welcome Barroso’s commitment but he must say this louder and more often to the member states. They have been gripped by short termism and we need to hammer home how much they need the EU.”
Schultz also called on the commission to work even harder at getting the constitutional treaty back on track.
“Those who undermined the constitution need to come up with a suggestion of how to get out of it,” he insisted.
“Without constitutional reform we cannot have enlargement.”
Enlargement will be on the agenda when Europe’s leaders convene in Brussels on Thursday and Friday – but doubts over “absorption capacity” will also be voiced.
“Enlargement will be looming large at council,” Austrian minister Hans Winkler promised.
“In the second half of the year the commission will make a report on absorption capacity and we have called for this too.”
But the commission president was quick to warn MEPs away from closing Europe’s borders.
“There are concerns about absorption capacity, but look what it has done for the EU,” he said.
“I want an open Europe, not a miniature one. We need an enlarged EU that can face globalisation. Our politicians have to get out of this vicious circle of euro pessimism. They need to start building a virtuous circle.”
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