07 November 2012

Merkel pitches her revived EU vision to European Parliament

Outlining her vision for a revamped Union, Ms Merkel stressed the need to protect the euro, whereas EP political group leaders pressed her to be more ambitious, not least on the EU budget, and to focus less on austerity. A minority argued that the euro was too much of a straitjacket.

Ms Merkel spent the afternoon meeting various MEPs, culminating in a two-hour discussion centred on the EU's economic troubles and the upcoming negotiations on the shape of the bloc's next long-term budget. In her speech, she said:

"I would like to make a pledge to you here today. Germany will do everything it can to ensure the European Union can also in future keep its promise of freedom and prosperity. But I am also here because I am counting on your support. Once again, we are hearing more and more voices saying we could just sit back and relax now, saying we don’t actually need to renew economic and monetary union because the work has already been done with the immediate crisis management measures.

To my mind, that is completely wrong. Instead of sitting back, we need to ensure step by step at all levels of the EU that Europe’s strengths can flourish once more: the freedom, the dyna¬mism and the prosperity that the European Union can offer its people at home; the impact and influence that the European Union gives us in the outside world."

Ms Merkel's vision focused on strengthening economic policy coordination and more joint fiscal policy.

"I’ve already indicated that I’m aware of the concerns about a division between an EU of the 17 and of the 27, soon to be 28. I believe we can convincingly assuage such concerns. For, firstly, the deepening of economic and monetary union is essential for the future of the European Union as a whole. Second, a renewed economic and monetary union will remain open to those non-euro countries which wish to take part. There is no closed club of euro countries, we will always welcome others. For, after all, economic and monetary union was established with the aim that every member state would take part.

I’m certainly committed to ensuring that deepened economic and monetary union does not lead to a two-speed Europe but, rather, creates a double-strength European Union. Furthermore, I’m firmly convinced that we can only create a Europe marked by stability and strength if the Member States and the organs of the European Union work together."

She also called for a eurozone budget with which to compensate countries for their reform efforts. 

Political group leaders repeatedly pressed Ms Merkel on the need for greater political decisiveness. The EPP emphasised the need for an EU budget capable of dynamising the EU economy. S&D, Greens and GUE called for a new anti-crisis plan less reliant on austerity. The liberals stressed the need to move rapidly towards a federal EU. The ECR and EFD, on the other hand, pushed for countries to be able to leave the eurozone system.

Full speech

Press release

EPP TV

Europarl TV

After her visit to the European Parliament, Chancellor Angela Merkel travelled on to London. Her talks with Prime Minister David Cameron also focused on European policy issues. "I would like to see a strong United Kingdom in the European Union", Angela Merkel declared earlier in the day in response to a question posed by a eurosceptical Member of the European Parliament. The meeting in London served primarily to prepare the ground for the European Council meetings in November and December. At these meetings the heads of state and government will be discussing above all EU finances and the future development of the economic and currency union.

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