During the plenary session (17/05/2010 to 23/05/2010) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the EU strategy 2020 with the Commission and Council. Statements by Michel BARNIER, European Commissioner for Internal market and Services

statement

Strasbourg

plenary session

BARNIER, Michel (FR)

economic governance (T)

EU strategy 2020: extracts from the Commission and Council statements

Exterior shot of the EP, Strasbourg, France 

SOUNDBITE (in French) Michel BARNIER, European Commissioner for Internal market and Services: We believe that this EU 2020 strategy is probably the first instrument of this enhanced economic policy. The proposal had been made by the COM, happened beginning of March already, already then we talked about how important it is to clean up our public finances, we had this crisis about the Euro and it goes to prove that our position was the right and relevant one.

SOUNDBITE (in French) Michel BARNIER, European Commissioner for Internal market and Services: We needed to get our act together, I'm thinking here in particular about supervision and we also need regulation of our financial markets, these markets should be at the service of our real economy, not the other way around. Now on these points I can assure that the COM will stick to its road map. In a years time we will have presented all the legislative proposals that would allow us to give real content to the EU 2020 commitments, 4 pillars: transparency, responsibility, supervision and crisis prevention.

SOUNDBITE (in French) Michel BARNIER, European Commissioner for Internal market and Services: At the June EU Council some indicators will have to be agreed upon, for education, for social inclusion as well, work is currently underway in the various Council formations or committees to look precisely at those two objectives. You have to remember that the EU 2020 strategy is not just a vision; it is really a programme with tangible projects we want to implement and that are why we suggested 7 flagship initiatives as part of parcels of that strategy.