09 October 2013

President van Rompuy: We have been seeing a Europeanisation of national policy

Translated from the French

"Seeing the real tensions, both institutional and political, ever since the euro crisis started in 2010 has sparked some fear of "renationalisation of European politics" which would be a threat to the whole European edifice. I personally, however, see something else: if you look at where we started, we must see a "Europeanisation of national policy", a shift that has already strengthened our building.

"The key word is interdependence. Leaders and the public have come to know the intimate entanglement of our economies, our societies and our policies. They now know what it really means to share a common space and to share a currency. The great lesson of the financial and economic crisis - and most of what we have done to overcome it - is to manage better this interdependence. This has been tackled first of all by the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), the symbol and the most concrete expression of solidarity. But better management of European interest also means more responsibility in each country - in this context the new economic governance is a shining example.

"Since 2010, we have advanced in parallel and systematically across these two channels. The eurozone is now a whole lot stronger on both counts. Today, the top priority is growth and employment. If the foundations are shaking, consolidation comes first, before you can continue to build - but now we are in the second phase. For over a year, we have been working on employment, especially youth employment. The French government has played a key role as accelerator in this process. We are also working on growth - by various means - but on growth that is sustainable. Our competitiveness is essential. Structural reforms are needed. This does not make us more popular, but short-termism will not save us.

"Another key project, shared by all the other leaders of the eurozone, is to achieve a genuine economic and monetary union, according to what I have proposed to the heads of states and governments in a roadmap in December 2012. This includes strengthening the economic union by coordination and integration, certainly in the euro area, and run budgetary surveillance, with respect to organisational goals.

"On the way to a strengthened economic and monetary Union the most important step now is Banking Union. It is the keystone of the new architecture and we need our work to advance as quickly as possible. After the agreements on the single supervisory mechanism (SSM), the objective now is to come to an agreement on a resolution mechanism (SRM) by December. For this question, the European Council meetings in October and December will be highly important.

"The storm is behind us, but people ask us in Brussels, and ask you here in Paris, for orientation and the next steps. Where do we go together, and how far? What is the nature of this Europe that we want to create? Your country has been asking for a "more political" Europe for decades. Well, Europe has indeed become more political.

"And France is not just any country in Europe. It has been your country, together with Germany, which since the early days has given and gives great impetus to the European adventure. Your partners across Europe need France to play a specific role in this European project, to meet not only the expectations of the French but also of other Europeans."

Full speech (in French)

© European Council