Hans-Gert Poettering, President of the European Parliament and former chairman of the EPP-ED group
This interview was conducted shortly before Hans-Gert Poettering's election in mid-January 2007 as President of the European Parliament
How do you see the way ahead on the EU constitution, and what can the German Presidency achieve?
I am optimistic that during the first half of 2007 we can give new impetus to the constitution and find a way to adopt the substance of the constitutional treaty in time for the 2009 European Parliament elections. It’s too early for the German presidency to find a solution for the constitution, but I think it will be possible to agree a timetable by the end of the Presidency in June and a mandate for a conference to start during the Portuguese Presidency. This conference of member states, but also involving the Commission and the Parliament, could find an agreement on how to proceed. The Berlin Declaration which will be signed in March to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Union is an occasion for governments to send a strong political signal to all European citizens on how they see the future of Europe and give new life to the idea of European unification.
Which are the most important parts of the EU's strategy to create a competitive energy market, address the Union’s energy security needs and respond to the challenge of climate change?
A properly functioning internal energy market would create more competition and make production and the use of energy more efficient and more reliable. Therefore the most important step is to fully implement the second energy market liberalisation package. Only when this has been completed can we discuss further regulatory measures.
The events at the beginning of last year when Russia used its power as gas supplier to put political pressure on Ukraine, have made very clear the importance of secure energy supplies. Our level of dependence on oil imports has been of concern for a long time. We need to diversify our energy sources to include more renewable energies, including nuclear energy, as part of the energy mix. Diversification of supplier countries is a further important element in this strategy such as the recent memorandum of understanding signed with Kazakhstan. Solidarity among EU countries is also important.
On the environmental front, we need to make greater efforts to promote environment-friendly energies as well as increasing energy efficiency. At the same time we have to start work now on the post-Kyoto framework for after 2012.
How should the EU balance its energy security needs with its need to ensure respect for human rights and democracy when dealing with supplier countries like Russia and Uzbekistan?
The defence of human rights is one of the most important elements of the values of the European Union. We should never forget this in our relations with third countries, including Russia and the United States. The human rights situation in Chechnya has been a concern for some time, and the murders of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaia and of Alexander Litvinenko should also serve as a warning. In its relations with Russia, the EU cannot deal only with energy questions; a new partnership agreement must also include the issue of human rights. Human rights can never be the price to pay for energy supply.
What measures are needed to ensure that EU governments' finances are sustainable over the long-term, given the demographic trend towards a smaller and ageing working population?
This is a question that has mainly to be answered by member states’ governments, because they can best evaluate the specific conditions in their own countries and decide on the right answers. But it’s clear that comprehensive reforms will be needed in most member states to improve the sustainability of welfare systems while facing the budgetary consequences of ageing. Three main issues need to be tackled: reducing public debt, increasing employment and productivity rates and reform of the pension and health care systems.
Fifty years after the signing of the Treaty of Rome, what has been the EPP-ED group's contribution to European integration?
The EPP has been in the centre of European integration and to a large part its motor thanks to founding fathers like Robert Schuman, Alcide de Gasperi and Konrad Adenauer. For 50 years the EPP has been the tireless advocate of a democratic and efficient Europe, with one of its top priorities the strengthening of the European Parliament. At every treaty change, the EPP has fought to increase of powers of the Parliament and give it the same rights as the Council of Ministers.
How should the EU's sources of revenue and spending priorities be reformed to modernise the EU budget and prepare for future challenges?
The European Parliament has for many years asked for an own resources system that is simple and avoids complicated compensation mechanisms like the British rebate. The various options include a tax resource based either on energy, VAT or corporate income tax. This would replace existing resources and would be tax neutral. Citizens would not have to pay more tax, but they would be able to see exactly which share of taxes contribute to the EU budget. The Parliament will soon come up with its own proposal on this matter. Although the agreement on the EU’s 2007-13 budget has already set clear priorities for spending, we will need to review the EU’s budget in 2008/2009 including agricultural policy, own resources and the UK rebate.
Hans-Gert Poettering was interviewed for Europe’s World by journalist Simon Taylor. This section is supported by the EPP-ED Group (http://www.epp-ed.eu).