Under pressure

It’s probably true that when it’s under pressure the European Union is capable of taking necessary decisions, which can no longer be delayed. Thus the European Council of June 23-24 put into writing a list of priorities in the areas of economic governance, migration, partnerships with Mediterranean countries, ECB leadership and enlargement. The decisions apparently contented everyone, but now it’s time to put them into force.Economy and migrations. “This may not have been a European Council with the drama that some may have expected. But it this was an important European Council that took crucial, substantive decisions on economic policy, on migration, on the Southern Mediterranean but also very important and historic decision on Croatia and of course the decision about the next President of the European Central Bank”. José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, provided his version of the European Council that for two days brought to Brussels the heads of Government and State of the Union. “On economic policy, it was important because on Greece, we have once again shown that we find agreement when agreement is needed. And now we enter in the implementation of the guidelines that where commonly agreed” Barroso pointed out. G overnance is stepped up, the “European semester” has borne its fruits, Greece will be helped escape bankruptcy. “The issue of migration – he added – is a sensitive question, and in some of our member states there was a tension in recent months”. But “we all agree that we have more to gain from a joint approach”. There was agreement on the adoption of the Schengen system, alongside with its basic principle, namely, “the free movement of persons within EU borders”. However, “there is a need for updated measures, and “the Commission will come forward with its concrete proposals in September”. “As for the Mediterranean, partnerships will be set up” with North African countries, aimed at “economic development and at political and social stability”. Finally, a note on the Balkans: “the doors of Community Europe remain open to all the Countries” of the region. Arab Spring. It is necessary to “help young people in Northern Africa and the Middle East to build a future in their own country”, promoting “democratic reforms”. Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, in his remarks on the summit of the Heads of Government and State announced that an agreement has been reached on all the items on the agenda, including partnerships with the countries that are experiencing the “Arab Spring”. “We condemn – he added – the ongoing violence and repression of the Syrian regime” for which “the EU adopted new sanctions. As relates to Libya, we will keep up the military pressure as long as Khadafi stays”. “We are preparing the post-Khadafi democratic transition”. Looking at the Mediterranean, Van Rompuy reiterated a request “for the resumption of negotiations for long-lasting peace in the Middle East”. As relates to migration, the Belgian politicians underlined that the Council “confirmed the 2012 target date for the establishment of the Common European Asylum System”. President Van Rompuy underlined: “The European Council paved the way for Croatia’s accession to the EU and on Mario Draghi’s appointment as President of the European Central Bank”. The successor of Jean-Claude Trichet “will exercise a strong and independent leadership of the ECB”, “continuing the tradition established by the Bank’s first two Presidents”. Doors open to the Balkans. “We need strong leaders. And mostly, we need leaders capable of cooperating with each other”: Hungarian Premier Victor Orban, that concludes with the summit his six-month EU presidency, commented on the performance of the “community engine”. “The EU is now stronger than six months ago – he pointed out -. “-. At the onset of the Hungarian presidency we were called to address sudden challenges such as the disaster in Japan, the series of changes in North Africa and the crisis over the euro”. According to Orban, the EU responded “with concrete joint economic governance” and with interventions in the Southern Mediterranean. The Hungarian Prime Minister – who admits that the Hungarian presidency was received with a certain degree of scepticism – underlined more achievements: “We have adopted a strategy for the integral development of the Danube region, we gave fresh impetus to EU enlargement with the utterance on Croatia’s EU accession” as well as “the adoption of an important inclusive strategy for the Roma people in Europe”, which was a highlight of the program submitted by Orban at the beginning of the year. Jadranka Kosor, Croatian premier, commented on the green light of EU27 to the future adhesion of Zagreb: “EU adhesion is the only path towards stability and prosperity in the Balkans”. Negotiations are due to be finalized by next week. The signing of the Treaty is scheduled to take place by 2011 and EU adhesion is fixed for July 1st 2013. “It’s a historical moment – he concluded – for my Country and for all Croatian citizens”.