BRATISLAVA, July 7, (WEBNOVINY) — Despite several pessimistic predictions for the European Union, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy believes in its future. He made his comments at Thursday’s briefing at the Cabinet Office in Bratislava following a meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova. „We are still attractive. The European Union is still sexy, not just its president,“ joked Van Rompuy. The attractiveness of the EU, he said, is proven by the continuing interest of countries that would like to join the existing member states. Just a few days ago, the EU completed accession negotiations with Croatia, which will become its 28th member country. „The fact that Europe is still sexy, I can subscribe to, since we are now addressing problems of old sins of some countries, and we have new members like Estonia [new euro area member — SITA note] and future EU member Croatia,“ said Radicova.
During a briefing, the Council President and the Prime Minister spoke with familiarity as they addressed each other by first names. According to Van Rompuy, the position of individual member states to the current situation in the European Union will be important for its future. He is asking who is in a worse position: the countries that need help, or those which should lend them assistance. According to Van Rompuy, member states in a debt crisis will not receive money in the form of a gift. Rather, the assistance is a loan, and countries provide it in exchange for reforms. The Council President said he understands concerns of member states that should participate in the bailout. „But if we do not do this, if we do not take all the responsibility, then other countries may get into danger,“ warned Van Rompuy. The financial stability of the euro area can be saved, he said, only by engagement and responsibility of other member countries. He further sees an advantage the EU has, as its debt is not as large as that of the United States or Japan.
Radicova welcomed the agreement to move to September a decision on the common European financial stability instrument . „It is very important for every country to not just adopt, but also implement very fundamental and extensive reforms,“ she said. She reiterated Slovakia’s conditions for further decisions on its participation in the bailout, such as involvement of the private sector in resolving the crisis and monitoring the results of reforms in each supported country. Additionally, Van Rompuy praised the decision of the Slovak government to fulfill commitments made last year in the European Financial Stability Facility, as well as Slovakia’s commitment under the new stabilization mechanism.
SITA