Let
me start by thanking Prime Minister Bettel for the welcome I have received here
in Luxembourg today.
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The
rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union is an important and a
demanding task. It takes hard work, a lot of patience and great negotiating
skills. But Luxembourg is both well-prepared and, above all, very experienced.
Not many EU member states can boast of 12 Council presidencies!
At
the same time responsibility is also a privilege. It is an opportunity to help
lead the European agenda for 6 months. This is what our meeting today has been
about.
Your
presidency comes at a time when Europe faces a number of significant
challenges. We will need your experience in handling many of the sensitive
files that need to be addressed in the coming months. In this, the presidency
has my full support and I know that we will work very closely together.
There
are a number of areas where we will need to deliver. One prime example is the
ongoing migration crisis in the Mediterranean. As we speak, the presidency is
working on the follow-up to the decisions taken at the June European Council on
relocation and resettlement of 60,000 asylum seekers. We are working to support
front-line countries on the reception and registration of irregular arrivals. We
will be meeting with our African partners in Malta in November to discuss
cooperation with the countries of transit and origin. I will of course ensure
that the Luxemburg presidency is closely involved in the preparations of
upcoming summits. Just as I will support the presidency in taking forward
legislative work.
How
we handle the challenge of migration, will also of course impact on the Schengen
area of passport-free travel - a remarkable success story born during a previous
Luxembourg presidency.
Greece
remains of course our most immediate challenge. There are only three days left
to the next summit. Let me use this occasion to again underline that we stand
ready to do whatever necessary to ensure the financial stability of the euro
area. We expect Greece to put forward by the end of today proposals that are
both comprehensive and specific. It will then be for the Institutions and the
Euro Group to make the first assessment.
I
just spoke with the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. I hope that today we
will receive concrete and realistic proposals of reforms from Athens. If this
happens, we will also need a parallel proposal from the creditors. The realistic
proposal from Greece will have to be matched by an equally realistic proposal on
debt sustainability from the creditors. Only then will we have a win-win
situation. Otherwise, we will continue the lethargic dance we have been dancing
for the past five months.
As
a final comment I want to stress that offering help to Greece, especially in the
context of debt, cannot be a justification of the wrong economic philosophy,
which is the main source of the crisis. And so, I believe that that Europe's
assistance for Greece should be accompanied by an old Roman saying "Magnum
vectigal est parsimonia".
Prime
Minister Bettel and Luxembourg can count on my full support for your presidency.
Your good ideas, organisation and energy have never been more needed or
appreciated than now. All the best Xavier, and good luck.
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