CURRENT European Commission mandate will be completed shortly and Europe is preparing for a new era that is about to begin. The new European Commission will be faced with several crucial challenges for Europe and Europeans.
President José Manuel Barroso has now seen his term renewed for a second five-year mandate.
On September 3 President Barroso presented his political guidelines for the next mandate, setting out
his objectives and ideas that he believes should inspire a political partnership between the Commission and the Parliament for the next five years.
To put it in his own words: “Europe is facing stark choices in today’s interdependent world. Either we work together to rise to the challenges or we condemn ourselves to irrelevance. I will redouble my efforts to make an ambitious Europe happen.
A Europe that puts people at the heart of the policy agenda and projects European values and interests in the world. A Europe that nurtures new sources of growth and drives forward smart regulation of sound markets that work for people. A Europe of freedom and solidarity. … I want to work closely with the Parliament for a prosperous, secure and sustainable Europe, which builds on the strengths of the enlarged EU’s internal market, the euro and our European model of society.”
The text covers practically all aspects of Mr Barroso’s political thought and priorities for the new term. He points out that what Europe needs today is a transformational agenda, which can only materialise on the condition that we all work together.
Since the challenge of enlargement has been met, we now need to proceed, with conviction and determination to a new phase of ambition. Revision of the current Lisbon strategy so as to fit the post 2010 period is clearly among his priorities. Mr Barroso wants a new strategy for convergence and coordination to deliver into this integrated vision of EU 2020. This will require both immediate and longer term action, such as:
* Making a successful exit from the crisis;
* Leading on climate change;
* Developing new sources of sustainable growth and social cohesion;
* Advancing peoples’ Europe;
* Opening a new era for Global Europe.”
More specifically, President Barroso considers a top priority to sustain demand and stem the rise in unemployment in order to exit from the crisis. Practically, this entails implementing the European Economic Recovery Programme with vigour, keeping interest rates low, and using state aid rules to support governments in their efforts to revitalise the economy without adverse effects on other Member States.
In his new term, President Barroso is ready to use the full range of possibilities in the Treaty to strengthen the convergence of objectives and the coherence of the effects of economic policy, particularly in the Euro area.
As far as action to combat climate change, President Barroso considers investing in sustainability is not only the right thing to do for the planet, but also an option that can provide huge opportunities for business and people and will enhance Europe’ energy security.
Furthermore, new sources of growth will have to be promoted. New sources that will represent a fresh approach to industrial policy, supporting industry, putting the emphasis on sustainability, innovation and the human skills needed to keep EU industry competitive in world markets and thus enhancing social cohesion in Europe.
Social policy and employment in particular are on the top of President Barroso’s agenda, as a means for inclusion, equity and social justice in the Union. Meanwhile, openness is considered critical to Europe’s future competitiveness and will have to be promoted in order to deliver solid results for EU businesses and citizens.
Investment in the networks of the future will also be in the centre of the new Commission’s interest, so as to tackle the main obstacles to a genuine digital single market, promote investment in high-speed Internet and avert an unacceptable digital divide.
A new era for Europe is about to begin. In the next few weeks, political developments will shape the course of Europe –the course of the lives of each and every one of us all – in the next decades. The new European Commission will certainly have a difficult but interesting way ahead. Citizens hope that, once again, it will rise to the challenge, that it will help formulate a people’s Europe, a Europe for all.
Androulla Kamina is Head of the EC Representation in Cyprus
