European Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva: “Europe is powerful, because it is united”

published on 3/13/12 12:40 PM

Photo: BGNES

The European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva joined the discussion at the National Assembly mottoed “Europe of Solidarity and/or Europe of Egotism”. This is the second of a series of public debates in the Bulgarian Parliament on current topics regarding the European Union and Bulgaria’s membership. It is held within the framework of the “European Talks in Parliament” initiative of the standing parliamentary committee on European Affairs and Control of EU Funds, under the auspices of National Assembly Speaker Tsetska Tsacheva.

“We, Europeans, are powerful because we are united,” Kristalina Georgieva, commissioner for ‘solidarity’ as she termed herself, said in reply to the key question on the National Assembly’s agenda. “Our reply to that question determines our present and future. It defines also the road we take – whether we shall head towards prosperity or we shall gradually lose our ground.”

“I am a fervent believer in the European project. I have no doubt whatsoever that together with our children we shall live in a powerful and united Europe. That is why, the solidarity on which Europe is founded, is not a luxury. This is not a charity, but a necessity for all of us, from the North and the South, for the rich and the poor.”

According to Ms. Georgieva, Europe’s power in competition with countries such as the United States, India, China and Brazil is based on the solidarity within the European Union.

“Nowadays 500 million Europeans form the number one economy in the world. Europe’s GDP accounts for 26% of the world economy. The United States is second with 23%, but Bulgaria comes only 75th in IMF estimates. Europe’s smallest country, Estonia, will rank 101st. However, even in terms of purchasing capacity the European Union still remains the world’s greatest power. And if we want to stay on top, we need to continue the integration of the EU member states. I believe that in the long term Europe stands excellent prospects of preserving its entity by answering the key question by “This is a union based on solidarity.”

On the other hand, Kristalina Georgieva maintains that it is the ongoing economic crisis that is at the basis of the Europe of egotism.

“The crisis has stirred a great many negative trends in Europe, such as populism, nationalism and egotism. This is partly due because the crisis has not affected all EU countries in equal measure. 4 EU member states, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Austria, have an unemployment rate of 4-4.5%, i.e. they almost have no such problem. But there are 13 EU countries with a rate higher than the Community’s average 9.8%. 10 of them have a youth unemployment share of over 25%, and in Spain and Greece half of the young population is unemployed. The crisis affects also the public opinion depending on its repercussions per country. For example, more than 50% of the citizens of Sweden, Luxembourg, Germany, Finland, Austria and the Netherlands are optimistic. But there are 10 other countries, Bulgaria included, where less than 10% feel the future is bright. Greece of course is at the bottom of the chart with hardly 1% of the population being hopeful of the future.”

European Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva shared with the Bulgarian MPs three of her very own ideas to enhance solidaity within the European Union. These are: combining solidarity among EU countries with accountability, i.e. via various financial stability tools, enhancing solidarity as regards the budget, and last but not least, giving some of the European solidarity to the world. We need to show the world as Europeans that it can be a better place only if it is based on values such as the solidarity, which is at the foundation of the European Union.

“No matter how hard the coming couple of years will be, Europe may become stronger. We witness that in the way the economies of the Union are being run. Let us hope that the same will hold true for the politicians. So that the issue ‘what kind of Europe’ will no longer be on the agenda. People must realize that we, Europeans, are strong, because we are united,” European Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva said in conclusion.

English version by Radostin Zhelev

По публикацията работи: Tatyana Obretenova

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European Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva: “Europe is powerful, because it is united”

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