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End of Term Review End of Term Review of Hans-Gert Pöttering as President of the European Parliament January 2007 - July 2009 End of Term Review 1 2 “DefendingValues Europe’s values - for a citizens’ Europe” “Winning the peace with our environment - Future for justice towards future generations” “Shaping gloablisation - for a socialResponsibility market economy” “Encouraging the dialogue of cultures - for partnership and tolerance”Dialogue “Implementing reforms - Reformfor democracy and a European parliamentary system” Quotes from the Inaugural speech, Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament Strasbourg, 13 February 2007 3 © European Communities, 2009 4 “WelcomeLooking at the progress achieved ... Clear objectives and apparent achievements n 4-7 June 2009, the citizens of the European Union have elected their new Euro- Opean Parliament. For the first time, citizens from all 27 member states took part to- gether in a Europe-wide democratic election. The newly elected European Parliament will constitute itself on 14 July 2009, and Members will elect their new President. June 2009 marked the 30th anniversary of the first direct elections to the European Parliament. Devoid of virtually any prerogatives thirty years ago, today the European Parliament is stronger than ever before, beating as the strong heart of a European parliamentary democracy we could only dream of in 1979. The European Parliament’s increased political and legislative influence, which will grow further with the hopefully prompt entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, bestows an important responsibility on the elected representatives of the nearly 500 million European citizens. Aware of the significant impact this development Failure to act, indifference, would have on the scope of the European Parlia- would be the greatest wrong we ment’s work, Hans-Gert “ could commit Pöttering, who was elect- ed 12th President of the First direct elections to the President Pöttering, directly-elected European European Parliament in 1979 Inaugural speech, 13 February 2007 Parliament on 16 January 2007, outlined ambitious objectives in his inaugural speech on 13 February 2007, designed at enabling the European Parliament to live up to its increased responsibilities and to rise to the global challenges. These priorities were: - Securing agreement on a new treaty ” - Fighting climate change - Tackling the financial and economic crisis - Developing parliamentary dimension at European level and worldwide - Defending human rights and promoting intercultural dialogue - Developing a European parliamentary contribution to the peace in the Middle East President Pöttering delivering - Reforming Parliament working methods and reinforcing its inter-institutional role his Inaugural speech. - Bringing the European Union closer to the citizens Strasbourg, 13 February 2007 Throughout the last two-and-half years of his term in office - a period intense in events with new challenges arising at both the institutional and the global level - the President has actively focussed on these objectives. This ‘End of Term Review’ evaluates the progress made in fulfilling the objectives set for the President’s mandate and highlights the impact of the legislative and reform activities carried out in the European Parlia- ment during the last legislature, laying strong foundations for our future work. I hope that readers find this End-Term Review a valuable overview of the political, insti- tutional and legislative achievements of the European Parliament over the last years. © European Communities, 2009 Katrin Ruhrmann A European Union of 27 Member States 5 Introduction: Clear objectives and apparent achievements I. Towards a new Treaty reform: Preparing the European Union for the XXI century Maintaining Momentum for Treaty Reform The Berlin Declaration Full participation in the Intergovernmental Conference Success in maintaining the substance of the reforms Promoting a swift ratification of the Lisbon Treaty Avoiding a standstill in the ratification process Finding a way forward The June 2009 European Council: clarifications for Ireland Future prospects II. Fighting Climate change Pushing for urgent action at European Union level Building momentum in the fight against climate change Securing the European Union’s energy supply Taking the lead on the way to the third industrial revolution Fast-track review of the EU-‘Energy and Climate package’ Putting the case around the world Historical First-Reading Agreement on the Climate Change Package Preparing for Copenhagen Summit III. Addressing the economic and financial crisis Facing the financial challenge together as European Union Pushing for better supervision and regulation of financial markets Towards an order based on the principles of Social Market Economy Promoting better regulation of financial markets at the global level The Euro - the rock of macroeconomic stability Seeking common solutions to boost tomorrow’s growth: investing in the future IV. Developing the Parliamentary Dimension Developing parliamentary democracy and cooperation at European level Joint Parliamentary Meetings on key European wide issues Projecting the European Parliament in the Wider World Participating in the G-8 Speakers‘ process Developing parliamentary democracies and cooperation throughout the world Parliamentary pre-summits Promoting parliamentary cooperation in the framework of the EMPA The EMPA in the Union for the Mediterranean Stepping up parliamentary co-operation with Africa Fostering closer relations of the European Parliament with Latin America Developing the Eastern Partnership 6 V. Defending Human rights and promoting Intercultural dialogue Defence of human rights: red line throughout the President’s mandate 20th anniversary of the Sakharov Price Launching a Sakharov Network Promoting the dialogue and co-existence between cultures Building bridges: Africa Week Furthering Euro-Arab Dialogue: Arab week The EMPA as core institution in fostering intercultural dialogue EuroMedScola: Young citizens at the heart of the Union for the Mediterranean Stepping up dialogue with religions leaders and communities of faith Visit of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to the European Parliament Pursuing the process on the long term VI. Developing a European parliamentary contribution to the peace in the Middle East Official visit to the Middle East in May 2007 Addressing the Knesset Developing a stronger parliamentary contribution to the peace process Creating a Working Group on the Middle East The EMPA, a parliamentary channel for dialogue in the Middle East The EMPA Fact-Finding Delegation to the Middle East VII. Reforming the European Parliament’s working methods and reinforcing its inter-institutional role Matching the EP participation in decisive EU-bodies with its increased influence Ensuring the European Parliament’s representation in key diplomatic fora Adapting the European Parliament working methods to new challenges First Wave of Reform: a Better Structured Plenary Second Wave of Reform: Accountability and Better Law-Making Third Wave: Improving Committee work and Inter-Institutional Relations Modernising the legislative work by strengthening the support services Enhancing the Better Law-Making agenda VIII. Bringing the European Union closer to the citizens Better communicating the European Parliament to the Citizen Involving the citizens: creation of new Prizes Stepping up dialogue between the European Parliament and Civil Society Developing the concept of Citizens’ Fora Promoting dialogue with the younger generation Creating a House of European History Conclusion: Significant achievements Sound foundations for future work 7 I. Towards a New Treaty: Preparing the EU for the 21st Century “If we wish to defend our values and interests worldwide, to appear as a respected partner in promoting peace and stabil- ity, we must make sure that the necessary institutional re- forms become legal and political reality as soon as possible.” (Hans-Gert Pöttering, Inaugural speech) rom the start of his term in office, President Pöttering made it clear that the The signing of the Treaties of Rome F‘priority of priorities’ was to contribute in ensuring an agreement on a new treaty, Rome, 25 March 1957 which would include the necessary reforms making the enlarged European Union fit for the 21st century. Maintaining Momentum for Treaty Reform The European Parliament played a key role in the revival of the debate on insti- tutional reform. It was strongly involved in the reform process throughout: back from the Laeken Declaration in late 2001, the Convention on the Future of Europe, during and after the reflection period following the rejection of the Constitution in France and the Neth- erlands, right up to the final stages of the Inter- governmental Confer- If our community of values is ence in autumn 2007. to endure, we must reform it As President of the President Pöttering, Chancellor Merkel, “ totally. President Barroso and German Finance European Parliament, Minister Steinbrück at the 50th anniversary Hans-Gert Pöttering President Pöttering of the Rome Treaties has constantly advocated Inaugural speech Berlin, 25 March 2007 the need for a new pact between the European Union and its citizens. At the beginning of his term in office in January 2007, the European Union was still in search of a way forward on institutional reform. Thus, President Pöttering, Commission President Barroso and the presidents of parliaments of the Member States in ” the ‘Sala degli Oriazi e Curiazi’ in Rome, where
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