‘The suspension of rights should only be introduced in cases of the most serious violations of the Union’s fundamental values’

In his last annual ‘State of the Union’ address before the European Parliament elections next year, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso largely avoided delving into more controversial topics, focusing instead on the Union’s successes over the past year and calls for deeper integration.

In somewhat shorter lines, addressing the plenary assembly of the European Parliament, Barroso stated this morning that signs of recovery in a number of troubled European economies mean that the EU is on the right track, but also warned that dangers to economic recovery still exist. In the introductory part, he briefly recalled what has been done since the last report, mentioning the reform of the financial sector, improved cooperation among governments, particularly in fiscal matters, and over 700 billion euros raised to assist the EU economies hardest hit by the crisis. He also mentioned the eurozone’s cohesion, despite many expectations that some countries would leave it, and the encouraging messages he received, instead of lessons from previous meetings, at the recent G20 meeting in Moscow as successes over the past year.

In line with the very optimistic tone of the speech, the Commission President listed very specific positive indicators in the most troubled member states: Spain (exports now account for 33 percent of GDP), Ireland (has returned to financial markets), Greece (deficit drastically reduced in three years, first primary surplus expected), Cyprus (everything is going according to schedule), and Portugal (growth is returning), but completely avoided the major problems that still remain in these economies, only generally referring to the largest issue, unemployment. In this regard, he called for strengthening structural reforms and expanding the single market, which directly affects both employment levels and economic growth. The Union needs integration in telecommunications (which is currently being prepared), mobility, energy, finance, etc. ‘The single market is a key lever for competitiveness and employment,’ he concluded.

At the same time, Barroso openly defended the cuts policy that the Commission imposed on some member states.

– Some say that Europe forces governments to make cuts. But we need to remind voters that public debt was out of control even before the crisis erupted, not because of, but despite Europe. We can also add that the most vulnerable, including our children, would have to pay the price if we do not persist now. After all, countries within or outside the euro, in Europe or outside it, are trying to reduce their public debts – he said.

Barroso took the opportunity to once again passionately call for the establishment of a banking union, one of the favorite ideas of this Commission that has met with resistance from some member states and the Council. Central oversight and clear rules for sending failed banks into history are at the very top of the list of things the Union must address, Barroso claims. Regarding the new seven-year Union budget, the president did not miss the opportunity to remind that the Parliament and the Commission sought more, which the Council did not agree with, but he also conciliatorily called for the swift adoption and implementation of the agreed amounts.

He also addressed the issue of Syria, reiterating the Union’s official stance that a ‘strong response’ is needed, without specifying what that response would be, but clearly stating that Europe sees a political solution as the only ultimately possible one.

For Croatia, perhaps the most interesting part of the speech, in light of the conflict with the Commission regarding the European Arrest Warrant, was when Barroso stated that the suspension of rights of a member state (Article 7 of the EU Treaty) should only be introduced in cases of the most serious violations of the Union’s fundamental values, when there is a serious and systematic risk to the rule of law, and that there must be equality among member states. However, he made it clear that some values are non-negotiable.

– Experience has shown the benefits of the Commission’s role as an independent and objective arbiter. We need to consolidate that experience through a more general framework that must be based on the principle of equality among member states, activated only in situations where there is a serious, systematic risk to the rule of law, prompted by previously defined criteria – he said.

In conclusion, in line with his firm belief in stronger integration of Europe, Barroso also called for a political union as a prerequisite for the future.

– There are areas of great importance where Europe must have more integration, more unity. Where only a strong Europe can deliver results. A political union must be our political horizon. This is not just the desire of a passionate European, it is an indispensable path forward for consolidating our progress and securing the future – concluded Barroso.