EPP leaders in Helsinki agree to bring forward a competitiveness pact; the EPP on the side of the people in North Africa
05.03.2011 | Mart Laar | English news
At a special Summit of leaders of the European People's Party (EPP), which took place last night in Helsinki Finland (click here for photos) in preparation of the March 11 Eurozone meeting in Brussels, a document was adopted which calls for the agreement of a comprehensive strategy that safeguards financial stability, economic growth and improved employment in Europe. In the 5-point document (see attachment), the leaders also agreed to bring forward a competitiveness pact:
"In the 5-point document that we adopted last night, we underline the importance of formulating a competitiveness pact which will bolster economic growth in Europe. With the right structural reforms and with fiscal consolidation, we can improve our competitiveness and create new jobs," underlined Wilfried MARTENS, President of the EPP.
"I also hope that the Socialist Prime Ministers in the EU will be willing to consider our proposals, since they opted not to endorse (by their absence, minus the host) the populist positions announced at the meeting of second-tier Socialist politicians in Athens yesterday," Martens added.
The EPP leaders also expressed their commitment to support and reinforce the democracy movements in North Africa and the Middle East:
"We have made it very clear that the EPP is one the side of the people in these countries. We will do everything in our power to promote freedom and democracy, and Libya is now a priority in this process," the EPP President underlined.
Photo: Mauri Ratilainen / Compic
The EPP leaders also offered their support and best wishes to Mart LAAR and his IRL party for the upcoming March 6 elections in Estonia:
"Mart Laar is highly regarded in the EPP and we hope that he will achieve a positive result in tomorrow's elections," said Martens.
Finally, the EPP leaders offered their support and best wishes for the Finnish elections in April to Jyrki KATAINEN - Kokoomus leader, Deputy Prime Minister of Finland, and Vice President of the European People's Party (EPP) - who hosted the EPP Summit in Helsinki:
"We are very pleased that Jyrki Katainen - the chairman of the EPP EcoFin Ministers and EPP VP - took the initiative to host the EPP Summit. The success of yesterday's event proves that Jyrki Katainen and Finland have a central role in Europe's decision-making process. Needless to say, Katainen's electoral success next month will enhance significantly Finland's role on the European stage," the EPP President stated.
The EPP Summit in Helsinki featured European Commission President José Manuel BARROSO, European Council President Herman VAN ROMPUY, European Parliament President Jerzy BUZEK, EU Council President & Prime Minister Viktor ORBÁN (Hungary), Chancellor Angela MERKEL (Germany), President Traian BĂSESCU (Romania), PM Silvio BERLUSCONI (Italy), PM Valdis DOMBROVSKIS (Latvia), PM Lawrence GONZI (Malta), PM Andrius KUBILIUS (Lithuania) and PM Yves LETERME (Belgium).
Ireland's Taoiseach-elect & EPP Vice President Enda KENNY also attended.
The Party Summit also featured Vice Chancellor Josef PRÖLL (Austria), Deputy Prime Minister Karel SCHWARZENBERG (Czech Republic), IRL President Mart LAAR (Estonia), Slovenian Democratic Party President Janez JANŠA (Slovenia) and Nea Demokratia President Antonis SAMARAS (Greece).
Note to editors:
The EPP is the largest and most influential European-level political party of the centre right, which currently includes 75 member-parties from 39 countries, the Presidents of the Commission, Council, and Parliament, 15 EU and 6 non-EU heads of state and government, 13 members of the European Commission and the largest Group in the European Parliament.
