Work and opportunities for young

Very different Political figures, coming from distant countries, yet equally committed in the building of a united Europe, geared at tackling the crisis and to respond – without underestimating difficulties and internal differences – to the needs of citizens. The plenary session of the EU Parliament of January 14 to 17 has brought to Strasbourg three leaders of Member States that share a common "European vocabulary". The German Chancellor. "If we strengthen the European Union, we strengthen our member countries": the statement by German Chancellor Werner Faymann, was was welcomed by MEPs. The head of Vienna’s socialdemocratic government told the EP that with over 20 million unemployed in Europe "it would be cynical to say that we have exited the crisis". "Moreover, over the past years we have worked at EU level to provide common answers to the crisis and those who had predicted the end of the common currency and of the EU were proved wrong. But until growth rates remain low, until new job opportunities are created, we have an urgent task that we must address together". Faymann addressed a wide range of issues. "We must not allow our young people – he pointed out – losing confidence in the future, and that’s why we have to focus on social cohesion, to build a social Europe". The chancellor noted that "the price of the crisis has not been paid by the real culprits", i.e. by financial speculators, "but by ordinary people, families, workers, by those in need of medical care". The Austrian politician thus suggested a series of actions to restore growth and European "solidarity", including "investments in infrastructure", along with "energy policies based on renewable sources", "dual training" for young people (theoretical and practical traineeship), support to businesses, innovation to boost competitiveness".The "taoiseach" from Ireland. "We must work hard and together to renovate, to restore and to renew our Union". Enda Kenny, Irish premier, presented Ireland’s plans for the six-month presidency of the EU Council of Ministers. Kenny mentioned Saint Columbanus and Killian, who "left in their small boats to bring the light of learning to the European mind". He then delved into the integration process and its meaning (peace, wellbeing, openness to the rest of the world), highlighting the fact that it is Ireland’s "40th anniversary of joining what was then the European Community". "In those 40 years just as our Union has been transformed so too membership of the EU transformed Ireland", he added. In his speech the prime minister ("Taoiseach", in Gaelic, Irish mother tongue) leader of the Fine Gael party, member of the European People’s Party, reaffirmed his Europeanism, openly welcomed by MEPs. He underlined economic and social progress, along with modernization processes implemented in his home country thanks to community funding. Thus he addressed current key issues. "Our priorities are stability, jobs and growth. We can come out the crisis, but we need to move in a unified and coherent manner, seeking to meet the needs of the citizens first of all, who want work, adequate income, security and a future for the younger generations". Among his first commitments Presidency Kenny has indicated negotiations on the multiannual financial framework, the two-pack (budgetary surveillance, governance), and investments for competitiveness and growth. Ireland was the first country since the crisis to be supported by financial intervention of the EU and by the International Monetary Fund. The president of Cyprus. "Without justice and social cohesion Europe is an organization of states without projects", which "drifts away from the project of the founding fathers". In Strasbourg, Demetris Christofias, president of the Republic of Cyprus, drew a balance of the six-month presidency of the EU Council led by his Country in the second half of 2012. Christofias, a member of the Communist Party, recalled "difficult moments", when Cyprus held the Community’s leading position, marked by "serious economic crisis, which has weighed heavily on citizens and businesses and slowed down integration". But the leader glimpsed "an upcoming exit from the crisis by securing the Eurozone". "It’s time to focus on growth and jobs. – he said – consistent policies are necessary to step up solidarity and social cohesion, and to respond to citizens’ needs by providing job opportunities to young people". The president of Cyprus also questioned "the action of the technocrats of the troika who only develop austerity policies" to control the debt of some member states "stifling the economy and discouraging citizens, and making the EU unpresentable to the eyes of public opinion. "The Union – he declared – must not give the impression that it only sides with bankers, since in this way the rich are getting richer and the poor grow poorer".