The Hague, 20 January 2011 EUROPE AN COUNCIL PCE 011/11 THE PRESIDENT
Herman Van Rompuy President of the European Council Press Statement following the meeting with Prime Minister Mark Rutte
Prime Minister Rutte and I have had a fruitful and cordial discussion about the European policy tasks facing us in the coming year.
You will not be surprised to learn that we talked at length about the economic situation. How are we as a Union to boost longer-term growth and employment in our countries? How are we to ensure the financial stability of the Eurozone?
In 2010 we took an impressive series of measures in the European Council. • The Stability Pact has been strengthened: it can now be implemented more strictly, more quickly and sooner. • We shall as a Union keep a better look-out for countries whose affairs are not in proper order: budgets, but also competitiveness, and problems with banks or the housing market which pose threats to neighbouring countries. • We have established a temporary safety net for countries in difficulties, subject to strict conditions. We have already agreed on a permanent emergency fund, with regard to both the necessary amendment of the Treaties and the characteristics of such a fund.
At the same time, we have always said: If more is needed, that is what we will do. The resolute intention of the leaders of the Eurozone – and Mark Rutte is one of them – to guarantee the stability of our currency is not to be underestimated. In the coming weeks and months, we shall undoubtedly be having further talks together on this and deciding how to strengthen the instruments at our disposal and what more we can do to coordinate economic policy in the Eurozone. I am not in the business of making forecasts here. There has been enough of that in recent days, which is moreover a great pity.
P R E S S
FOR MORE DETAILS: Dirk De Backer - Spokesperson of the President +32 (0)497 59 99 19 Jesús Carmona - Deputy spokesperson of the President +32 (0)2 281 9548 / 6319 +32 (0)475653215 e- mail: [email protected] internet: www.consilium.europa.eu/vanrompuy
EN
We have gone through the agenda for the European Council of Heads of State or Government up to the summer. This February, for example, we shall mainly be discussing innovation and energy. Even at a time of crisis, we are not losing sight of the long term. In March we shall start to take a closer look at each other's economic plans.
We have also discussed Afghanistan. I welcome the Netherlands' proposed contribution to the European Union Police Mission: EUPOL.
That Mission is crucial for building up the Afghan police, the rule of law in Afghanistan and thereby for the handover of responsibility for security in the country to the Afghan authorities. It therefore fits in perfectly with a strategy geared to an Afghan socio-economic future. Without security that is impossible.
EUPOL and NATO are working hand in hand to build up the Afghan police: the EU provides the framework, NATO the everyday police staff. This means that in the training of police in Afghanistan, the EU cannot act without NATO and NATO cannot act without the EU: they are two sides of the same coin.
I am therefore delighted at the Netherlands Government's proposal. We shall of course await the outcome of the parliamentary process here in the Netherlands.
2 EN