Rosenthal: now is not the time to think about a federal Europe
‘If the European Union wants to be effective, it needs to start by putting its own house in order.’ Foreign minister Uri Rosenthal made this statement following the fifth Future of Europe Group discussion on the EU’s further development.
Mr Rosenthal said that the present emphasis should be on a sound economic and budgetary policy and a strong internal market. Economic clout can later be translated into political influence.
‘The Netherlands is not interested in internal EU debates on institutional scenarios,’ said Mr Rosenthal. ‘And we are against the transfer of powers in the fields of pensions and the labour market. Above all, the EU should not get bogged down in inward-looking debates about a more federal Europe.’
Earlier this year, the German foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, launched proposals to improve the EU’s democratic legitimacy and its ability to win the trust of EU citizens. He invited ten fellow minsters to discuss the EU’s future at several themed meetings.
