Wielkie wyzwania przed Unią Europejską

• Authors: Herman Van Rompuy

Title variants

EN

THE GREAT CHALLENGES FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION

• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

I sometimes explain that the enlargement of the European Union in and after 2004 is not a bureaucratic process, driven by ‘Brussels’, but that enlargement should be seen instead as a deeply political enterprise, driven by a great historic event. Nowadays our Union is stronger when all Member States are united in supporting jointly agreed objectives. One of the examples is the current crisis. It appeared crystal clear that all 27 members are fully convinced that the stability of the Euro zone is vital for the Union as a whole and for all our citizens. The European single market has been key to the EU’s prosperity over the last few decades. We have built the world’s largest single market. What’s more, innovation is the crucial factor to develop our economies, to achieve employment and growth and to improve living and working conditions. Moreover, we need to provide our citizens and companies with safe, secure, sustainable and affordable energy. No Member State should be isolated from the European internal market for energy. We have to strive for reciprocity and find mutual interests in dealings with global partners. The EU has a certain number of cards which we can only play together. At the bilateral summits between the Union and key partners this approach already is starting to pay off. We also need to further strengthen the synergy between the national capitals and Brussels. In our foreign policy the most important thing is not just to speak “with one voice”, but to have common messages and a shared sense of direction. The European Union is the world’s most evolved and subtlest project for building consensus amongst equal partners. Together, we defend something which is dear to us: a common civilization. Our countries are envied for their political stability, for their welfare and social-security systems, for the quality of European life. It is clear: there is a lot of work to do. In the economy, both in the short-term and the long-term. And in defending our interests and values in the world. Over a span of seven years Poland has found its place in the European Union. I should like to congratulate successive Polish governments and the Polish people on that. We are looking forward to the contribution of your country during the Presidency later this year.

Keywords

EN

EUROPEAN UNION; 2004 ENLARGEMENT; EURO ZONE; EUROPEAN INTERNAL MARKET; EUROPEAN ENERGY POLICY; EUROPEAN FOREIGN POLICY

• Publisher: Centre for Europe, University of Warsaw
• Journal: Studia Europejskie-Studies in European Affairs
• Year: 2011
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 9-18

Contributors

author

Herman Van Rompuy

• European Council, Rue de la Loi 175, B-1048 Brussels, Belgium