Barroso calls for greater economic integration 03/03/2010 - 16:44:15
The European Commission vowed today to use the full force of the Lisbon Treaty to push economic integration and pull the EU out of the financial crisis.
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, unveiling the commission’s latest plans to tackle jobs and growth and trigger recovery, said the continuing downturn reinforced the case for “European economic governance”.
He warned: “The current economic crisis is worse than anyone imagined, and increased economic inter-dependence demands a more determined and coherent response and makes the case for stronger economic governance in the EU.”
Mr Barroso said the Lisbon Treaty provided for close economic co-ordination between member states, with the commission in the role of co-ordinating national economic recovery efforts.
Some have argued the scale of the economic crisis calls into question closer European integration, but Mr Barroso insisted: “It does the reverse, so we must keep the fundamentals of the very important European policy of European integration.”
He went on: “Five years ago, at the time of the proposed revision of the Lisbon Treaty, there was strong resistance to the idea of stronger governance in Europe and increased economic co-ordination.
“But now things have changed. There is a much bigger awareness of the need to act together ... that is recognised and accepted by all European leaders.
“Now we have the Lisbon Treaty, which provides for (economic) policy recommendations and policy warnings. The commission intends to use these powers to the full. The commission will address country-specific (economic) recommendations to member states and warnings in the case of inadequate responses.”
Mr Barroso added: “The EU cannot impose an economic strategy on anyone, but the European Council (of EU leaders) must have full ownership if governance is to work.
“So I hope there is agreement that we need to implement the Lisbon Treaty and use all opportunities it offers on economic governance in the union.”
The remarks will renew claims from eurosceptics that the commission is trying to take control of national economic policies.
Only last month President Barroso publicly chided “some national politicians” for failing to accept the need for tougher governance as part of a new EU strategy for jobs and growth.
