Continental crossroads

The plenary of the European Parliament is once more the mouthpiece of issues involving politics, society, and continental economy, encompassing also “global” themes. During the session held in Strasbourg April 15 to 18 were voiced concerns related to the crisis and unemployment, to the atomic threats of North Korea, ongoing violence on Syria, the difficult relations between the Turkish government and internal minorities and between Ankara and Nicosia. MEPs remembered the victims of the attack on Boston’s marathon, conveying their closeness to the families of the victims and to the US population, underlying the latent threat of terrorism. Croatia “on the right road”. On the agenda of the parliamentary session figured, inter alia, the management of the crisis on the part of the European Central Bank, the reform of the banking system (banks’ capital requirement, loans to small and medium enterprises), Cyprus’ “bailout” with EU-ECB-IMF funds, examining EU’s relations with candidate and potential candidate countries, with special attention to Serbia, Kosovo and Turkey. MEPs gathered in the Assembly for a formal sitting with the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins, that holds the six-month presidency of the EU. The EP president chaired a debate with the EU Council and Commission on the constitutional reforms in Hungary and their compliance with EU law; the EP delivered a resolution on the forthcoming adhesion of Croatia that elected 12 MEPs in the elections of April 14. To this regard, in a statement, the Assembly said it is “looking forward to welcome” the Balkan Country as “the 28th Member State of the European Union of July 1st 2013”. The document states that Croatia fulfilled its obligations and reforms requested during the negotiations and that it is “on the right path to fulfil the requisites for adhesion”. Reprimands and encouragements. But in its resolution the European Parliaments highlighted a set of crucial themes. MEPs pointed out that accession “should not be construed as the end of a process, but rather as a step along the path towards economic, administrative and judicial modernisation”. The EU Parliament “reaffirms the centrality of an independent judiciary, professional and accountable public administration”, in “strengthening democracy”; it invites Croatia “to continue improving the independence, accountability, impartiality, professionalism and efficiency of its judicial system”. MEPs thus call on the Croatian authorities “to further step up their fight against corruption, still present in the Country, and “to remain vigilant in ensuring that fundamental rights are fully respected, while combating all forms of discrimination and acts of intolerance against national minorities, the Roma community, migrants” and other social brackets. The Resolution calls upon Germany and Denmark to contribute to Croatia’s adhesion with their respective ratifications. “The process undertaken by Croatia for EU adhesion, which entailed a deep transformation of all aspects of public policies, is nearing its completion”, remarked the rapporteur, Czech MEP Libor Rouèek. “Croatia’s accession will make the EU stronger and safer while Croatia’s success will act as an encouragement to other candidate countries in the Balkan region”. “Recovering our roots”. The contributions of the Irish monks of Saint Columbanus, whom Benedict XVI described as a “European saint” died in Bobbio (Italy), and St. Gall, who preached in the area of Lake Constance, were highlighted in the speech by the President of the Irish Republic Michael Higgings, “guest of honour” of the EU Parliament. In his address the Irish President mentioned the “peregrinatio monastica” and the “Jewish-Christian roots” underlying the process of European unity along with Greek thought, Roman Law and Enlightenment. President Higgings delved into the “ferocity” of the economic crisis in the EU, “with serious consequences” on citizens and families, while the “real culprits”, such as the global financial system and the rating agencies, “failed to assume their responsibilities”. “This situation wouldn’t have gone so far, had the spirit of solidarity prevailed”, underlined the President of Ireland. In order to recover from the ongoing difficulties, he said, “We must return to the origin of integration”. And quoting from Jacques Delors, President Higgins said: “Europe needs a soul”, and “Europe does not just need fire-fighters, it needs architects too”. During the plenary MEPs equally addressed controversial aspects of the Emission Trading System (ETS), designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions.