[Broadcast HD] Merkel visit to Brussels ahead of crucial EU summit
Channel: ALDE ADLE
Date: 2011-10-06

Storyline

The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, meets today (5 October 2011) the President of the European Parliament, Jerzy BUZEK and the political group leaders in an extraordinary session of the Conference of Presidents.

Merkel's visit to the EP comes in a very difficult period for Europe's economic struggle to survive the debt crisis in the Eurozone.

ALDE Leader, Guy Verhofstadt, thinks that the debate of today with the German Chancellor Merkel must focus on the best ways to save the single currency having in mind an action plan on economic governance.

GV: "My main message is that half measures cannot solve the problem that we have around the euro.  We need a bold, comprehensive, global plan to safeguard the euro and that means that we should establish, as fast as possible, an economic and fiscal union, in parallel to the monetary union.  We need desperately to have an economic government inside the euro zone and also a Eurobond market - a single bond market instead of the 17 bond markets we have today.  I think the time is right now to put such a global  plan on the table."

At the beginning of this week, the finance ministers of the euro area postponed a decision on the next disbursement  of financial aid for Greece until Troika presents its report on Greece.  The discussions will continue in two weeks during the Autumn European Council meeting, followed by a meeting of Head of State or Government of the Euro area.

ALDE Group will follow up commitments made last week in Strasbourg by President Barroso to strengthen economic governance in the Union and propose concrete measures to deepen economic and fiscal integration.

Guy Verhofstadt expects Barroso to stand by his commitment to seize the initiative and put proposals on the table of the next European Council.

Press Release

Verhofstadt: Merkel's legacy will be judged by her ability to resolve the eurocrisis
 
Addressing Chancellor Angela Merkel this afternoon at a meeting with European Parliament group leaders, Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the Liberal and Democrat group, called on her to show decisive leadership at the next European Council in backing further economic and fiscal integration in Europe as the only means to definitively get on top of the crisis which threatens to spiral out of control.
 
"The economic and financial crisis is fuelling anti-European sentiment across the continent. The inability of EU leaders to agree on a common and decisive strategy is resulting in persistent turbulence in the markets."
 
"Mrs. Merkel - you have a central role in Europe's fate. History will judge you according to the decisions and leadership you show in this time of crisis. We are pinning our hopes that you will rise to the challenge. France and Germany have historically been the motor of European integration, but always in pursuit of the common interest and placing trust and competences in the central institutions of the Union."
 
"At your next EU summit in a couple of weeks, Europe needs to come up with a global plan - a common vision - for economic governance, centred around the European Commission, to oversee national budgetary planning and economic policy direction. I ask you today to restate your country's historical faith in the European Union and its capacity to provide the direction necessary to resolve the crisis."
 
"You have said that you will do everything possible to save the euro. Now you must show that you mean it."

Shotlist

Guy Verhoftadt arriving at a press point, close-up + trans Guy Verhofstadt talking to tv journalist, up-shot  Guy Verhofstadt giving a tv interview, soundbite Verhofstadt: ""My main message is that half measures cannot solve the problem that we have around the euro.  We need a bold, comprehensive, global plan to safeguard the euro and that means that we should establish, as fast as possible, an economic and fiscal union, in parallel to the monetary union.  We need desperately to have an economic government inside the euro zone and also a Eurobond market - a single bond market instead of the 17 bond markets we have today.  I think the time is right now to put such a global plan on the table."
Angela Merkel arriving at the Conference of President of the European Parliament, Merkel in room shaking hands, close-up Merkel and Jerzy Buzek at the table, Guy Verhofstadt at the table.

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Merkel visit to Brussels ahead of crucial EU summit