How to secure the future of the euro discussed in Brussels

The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) participated on 7 November 2011 in the conference on “Securing the future of the Euro through deeper economic integration”, which was organized by the European People’s Party (EPP) in Brussels. On behalf ABTTF, Ali Türkelli, member of the Department of International Affairs, attended the conference, where the debt sustainability and the sufficiency of the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) were discussed.

Martens: the pros of the euro outweigh the cons

Wilfried Martens, President of the European People’s Party, said that they had been criticized for doing too little too late during the economic crisis in Europe, but given the economic and social events, it was not possible to take such measures over night. Martens added that it was their strong belief that the pros of the euro outweighed the cons and for the stability in Greece and the eurozone, they were ready for a change in the Lisbon Treaty.

Barroso: the euro area needs to speak with one voice in the international area

The European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told that for deeper economic integration, it needed to walk on two legs, the monetary leg and economic leg by pointing out the importance of the six-pack for economic governance and added that the euro area needed to speak with one voice in the international area. Barroso said that the appointment of a Commissioner responsible for the euro and promoted as Vice-President showed the Commission’s determination and he was going to unveil ideas for deeper economic governance in the euro area to a sitting of the European Parliament the following week and this might include proposals for treaty change.

Corien Wortmann-Kool, Vice-President of the European People’s Party, expressed that it was scary to see a French bank at the verge of bankruptcy and the markets went down when the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou spoke of referendum. Wortmann-Kool also said that they had to have faith in the European Union adding that when Papandreou had called back the referendum, it had showed them that Greece could not take the risk to be left out of the euro area.

During the questions and answers part of the conference, ABTTF asked the European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso how they saw the recent developments following the resignation of the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and what role should the new government take for a sustainable recovery in order secure the euro in Greece. After receiving all the questions from the conference participants, Barroso told that the European Union had developed in a spirit of openness for the last 60 years and even this development was enough to believe in Europe.

* Photo: www.epp.eu