A down-to earth summit

Probably it wasn’t a “historical summit”, as some of its protagonists had inferred, however, the European Council of June 27-28 made a set of unexpected achievements. These include, first and foremost, measures for strengthening youth employment, which recover the long forgotten “social dimension” of the Union. The funds allocated to this regard are not many nor are they sufficient, as many MEPs gathered in Strasbourg for the plenary meeting of July 1-4 have confirmed. However, as many MEPs have pointed out, they are “better than nothing”. Employment and young people first. Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, was the first to describe the outcomes of the summit as “significant step forward,” representing “milestones”. The achievements which the Belgian politician refers to are the measures for strengthening youth employment, the agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework (despite the “discount” granted to the United Kingdom regarding its financial contribution to the EU budget), the welcome to Zagreb on its EU membership, the consensus on Latvia as eighteenth eurozone country. Moreover, to the list should be added the decision to move forward towards accession talks with Serbia in January and those regarding an association and stabilization agreement with Kosovo. Van Rompuy remarked: “We worked with one voice reaching important decisions that strengthen our economic systems. These results were achieved because we have acted to restore stability to the public finances. The president mentioned the “social dimension” in the framework of the forthcoming Summit on Employment (Berlin, July 3) and when addressing the features that ought to characterise economic and monetary union, tabled for discussion in the summits of October and December. “No complacency”. José Manuel Barroso, before leaving the Justus Lipsius building, agreed that it was a “good summit for Europe”. But “we need to avoid any form of complacency”, he added. “Tensions still persist, but we are acting together”. The head of the EU executive launched an overarching message: “Until a few months ago, many observers forecast the dissolution of the single currency. Today, however, we are here to witness how the euro area expands” even with the entrance of Latvia as of January 2014, “while cooperation between Euro area countries” is “growing stronger”. Moreover, it is a point in fact that the major obstacles envisaged before the opening of the Council have been overcome. The leaders of the 28 EU Member countries have confirmed their consensus on the overall figures of the Financial Framework 2014-2020, set at 960 billion euros for commitments and 908 for payments. It has been agreed that youth unemployment will be increased (from 6 billion) to 8 or even 9 billion  during the seven-year period. The European Council has decided, as requested by the Commission, that 6 billion be used for the period 2014-2015 (in favour of countries with a youth unemployment rate that is more than 25%. These include Spain, Greece, Italy, France, Portugal…), while the remaining funds will be allocated later thanks to the “flexibility” clause of the budget established by the European Parliament. Consensus was given to funding to small and medium enterprises, which involves especially the European investments Bank.From words to facts. Now there remains to translate words into action, which is not to be taken for granted, given that many leaders have felt the need to underline this as a goal. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said she was “extremely pleased” with the conclusions of the summit. She pointed out: “now the funds are available. Now we have to start spending these sums”. Irish premier Enda Kenny, upon the conclusion of her six-month-presidency of the EU, added: “During this semester our efforts have been aimed at showing citizens that the EU is capable of taking commitments and turning them into concrete action”.