MEPs debate on the State of the Union 2010 during the EP plenary session in Strasbourg. Statements by Jospeh DAUL (EPP, FR), Martin SCHULZ (S&D, DE), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), Daniel Marc COHN-BENDIT (Greens/EFA, DE), Michal Tomasz KAMINSKI (ECR, PL) and Lothar BISKY (GUE/NGL, DE)

VERHOFSTADT, Guy (Renew, BE)

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

SCHULZ, Martin (S&D, DE)

DAUL, Joseph (EPP, FR)

state of the Union 2010 (T)

COHN-BENDIT, Daniel (Greens/EFA, FR)

BISKY, Lothar (GUE/NGL, DE)

KAMIŃSKI, Michał Tomasz (ECR, PL)

State of the Union 2010: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (French), Joseph DAUL (EPP, FR), on the need of strengthening EU's economy reducing inequalities by a series of measures that would promote the return of investments, build confidence with entrepreneurs and provide the possibility to develop new businesses and create wealth and jobs.

SOUNDBITE (French), Joseph DAUL (EPP, FR), We need to show more responsibility in our common external policy and become a real actor truly respected throughout the world.

SOUNDBITE (French), Joseph DAUL (EPP, FR), How can we justify that we are not present at the negotiating table with Israel and Palestine when we are the first aid donors in that region?

SOUNDBITE (French), Joseph DAUL (EPP, FR), It's high time that Europe has its own resources, let's not be afraid to say it, and the question of a European tax should no longer be taboo.

SOUNDBITE (German), Martin SCHULZ (S&amp;D, DE), For too long you have been making concessions to a Franco-German directorate which is currently running the Council.

SOUNDBITE (German), Martin SCHULZ (S&amp;D, DE), According to the Guardian in August, HSBC, Barkley's Bank and World Bank of Scotland made more than 20 billion in profits last year, and 9 billion has been paid out as bonuses to managers; I want to hear from you how we can eliminate this gap between the' has and has not's'

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), We cannot afford to be one Union and at the same time to have 27 different economic strategies as today, and it is crystal clear, if we want the Growth and Stability pact and the new economic strategy to be a success; we need a serious carrot and stick approach, with proper sanctions

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), The aim of some national governments to reduce the budget with 20 or 30% is ridiculous in times when more European solutions are needed today.

SOUNDBITE (French), Daniel Marc COHN-BENDIT (Greens/EFA, DE), You talked about growth, but you have failed to say that we need to change the nature of growth. You have failed to say that the environmental catastrophe we are facing will force us to reinterpret our understanding of growth. We've got Cancun in three months time but you failed to say anything at all about the fact that if we are to be credible in the climate change debate, then we are going to have to put forward the 30% cut in Co2 emissions, if we want to be in the avant-garde of the debate on climate change.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Michal Tomasz KAMI&#323;SKI (ECR, PL), on the fact that he shares the Commission views on high unemployment being one of the most worrying problems although we cannot say from one side that unemployment is unemployment and on the other side propose economic solutions that come along with an export of European jobs outside Europe.

SOUNDBITE (German), Lothar BISKY (GUE/NGL, DE), The EU, in other words both Commission and Parliament, lack credibility if they stand up and say that the member states alone are responsible for the rescue packages; what we need are effective financial measures, such as a ban on hedge funds and a ban on speculation in food stuffs, or a tax on transactions, or moving away from the 'flex-security' ideology.