Looking for the light at the end of the economic crisis tunnel, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero outlined his plans before MEPs during the Strasbourg plenary today. Energy independence, sustainable development and investing in the information society were amo

Spanish PM Zapatero to the rescue

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/15224926/N001-100120-001-EN.srt

As of 1 January José Rodriguez Louis   Zapatero officially took the reins

Over 3.5 hours he outlined   his 6 month programme to MEPs.

We take up the presidency   in a period of changes.

Economic changes generated   by the economic crisis.

We haven’t had such a serious situation   for the last 80 years.

Four routes were put forward to combat   the economic crisis.

Including the promotion of   the EU’s energy independence,

investing in information society and   encouraging sustainable development.

A plan that also focuses on social issues.

Thank you for referring   to the European social pact.

Finally someone from the Council   understands that we cannot build Europe

without workers   and even less against them.

I am not sure the solutions that   you advocate to end the crisis

Ending the crisis cannot happen   through increased public spending

but with economic, fiscal and ecological   conditions that favour business.

Zapatero submitted to a game   of questions set by MEPs.

Moreover, he was able to explain   how his role would work

with the new Council President,   Belgian Herman Van Rompuy.