Keynote speech by José Manuel Durão Barroso at the Opening Dinner of the CEPS Annual Conference 2008

Speaking at the Opening Dinner of the CEPS Annual Conference 2008, European Commission President José Manuel Durão Barroso started by congratulating CEPS on its 25th anniversary as “one of the most respected think tanks in Europe” and one that has contributed for so many years to the development of the European ideas and the interest in Europe working independently from the EU Institutions to promote the knowledge about what the EU is doing. 

During his speech, he touched upon many of the issues that have been high on the EU agenda in recent years.
First of all, he insisted on his plan for a ‘Europe of results’, here, Barroso believes that “The legitimacy of every transnational political project depends on the results that it is able to deliver for the benefit of its citizens”.
 
Then on enlargement he underlined how, fifty years ago and up to fifteen years ago, the peaceful reunification of Europe had been seen as a historical challenge. Today, that goal has been achieved, and almost all of Europe is united in prosperity and democracy. In this respect, enlargement was one of the most important moments in the history or Europe (not just of the EU).

Concerning the specific challenges for the 21st century, they are in the view of the President global ones: from climate change and energy security, to terrorism, to the increased (economic) competition from several parts of the world. All of them need global answers, and it is quite obvious that these cannot be given without a European response.
In particular, with regard to competitiveness, it is necessary to stay the course of European reform. The increased competition should be seen as an opportunity to improve the European economies, in particular, through the opening up of societies and economies. Since the EU is by far the most important export power, it would be completely self-defeating for it to adopt a protectionist attitude. However, Barroso also stressed that economic reforms and increased competitiveness have to go hand in hand with social solidarity and social inclusion.

Indeed, the concerns that many EU citizens have towards globalisation were “legitimate”, but is was necessary to placate these fears, and to that end the renewed Lisbon strategy stresses more than ever the importance of education and skills, in order to equip citizens better to take advantage of globalisation (rather than defending themselves from it).
Another major challenge is the fight against climate change. Here, Barroso passionately affirmed that Europe intends to take the lead, in order to reach a global agreement which will accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. Climate change, like energy security and energy supply, are areas where one can better discern the added-value of the EU, since it is clear that even the bigger member states alone would not have the necessary weight to push for a global agreement. The European Commission President also admitted that the green revolution had economic costs, but these had been indicated by the Commission in a fairly transparent way, and there was a consensus that the costs of inaction would be much higher. Moreover, the fight against climate change and the common energy market offer opportunities for economic growth and for more employment.

Barroso then addressed the issue of institutional reform, but not before stressing once again that that debate should not be separated from the real substantive policy issues. Citizens can better understand the need for efficient institutions if they agree with policies and goals. That is one of the reasons why there is a need to create and to strengthen institutions and mechanisms enabling citizens to be more closely associated with the politics of the Union. Barroso argued that the Treaty of Lisbon was part of the answer to these problems. In particular, he noted that the treaty gives more co-legislative powers to the European Parliament, the only institution that is directly elected by the citizens of the EU. This is an example of a reinforcing at the same time the competences and the democratic nature of the Union. In this respect, the Treaty also recognised that national parliaments have a special role in ensuring the proper application of subsidiarity. It is the first time that a European Treaty involves the national parliaments so closely in the legislative process, thus creating the conditions for a more accountable, more democratic, and more legitimate Union. So the Treaty of Lisbon sends a powerful message, defining a more active Union, a more democratic, transparent and accountable one.

Moreover, it puts in place the conditions for the efficient functioning of the enlarged EU. Here, the European Commission President referred to the CEPS Special Report on the impact of enlargement on the legislative output of his institution, which, in his view, confirmed the empirical evidence showing that the enlarged Commission is working more efficiently, taking more decisions, and with more consensus than the pre-enlargement one. In order to continue with this virtuous trend, Barroso argued, the EU needs stronger institutions, as the only means of providing a common sense of purpose for a Union of 27 member states and more. Furthermore, because of the multiple sources of legitimacy of the EU (supranational, intergovernmental and direct – through the European elections), the principles of institutional interdependence and institutional complementarity are fundamental for the overall legitimacy of the Union. In other words, no institution should replace another one, while they will all benefit from mutual cooperation.  

This had to be kept in mind when implementing the new institutional balance, in order to ensure that the process of institutional adjustment becomes a win-win situation, and not a zero-sum game. Thus, all three institutions should be stronger: the EU needs “a stronger European Parliament, not a weaker one, a stronger Commission, not a weaker one, a stronger European Council, more effective, with a more stable representation vis-à-vis the other world powers, not a weaker one, a stronger High Representative that enjoys the legitimacy of the member states and of the supranational/community method, not a weaker one”. Finally, for the system to work another fundamental ingredient was necessary. Namely, the political will to act, which according to Barroso, is even more important than the capacity to act. Indeed, with that political will Europe can make progress not only for the sake of Europe, but also for the sake of the world, to which it can propose, and not impose, its values of Peace, Freedom and solidarity.
 

Download the full report of the Annual Conference 2008 in PDF-format