In the spotlight: Tony Blair
"I am a passionate pro-European. ... I believe in Europe as a political project. I believe in Europe with a strong and caring social dimension. I would never accept a Europe that was simply an economic market," Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair said in his European Parliament speech last week.
With Britain taking over the EU presidency for the next six months, Mr Blair had to present his plan for getting the organization out of crisis - a crisis he himself was blamed for. But with the right leadership, he believes the EU can recover and get back on the road to bright future.
To that end, Blair said the EU needs to turn from CAP (the Common Agricultural Policy) to R&D. Instead of spending 40 percent of budget money on agriculture, the EU should concentrate on innovation, following in the footsteps of India and China. It should modernize its social model, adopt a disciplined and flexible macroeconomic framework and start to really implement the Lisbon Agenda.
Tony Blair is also a great advocate of EU enlargement and declares himself a friend and protector of the 10 new members, showing no fear of the notorious Polish plumber.
"Be under no illusion: if we stop enlargement or shut out its natural consequences, it wouldn't, in the end, save one job, keep one firm in business, prevent one delocalization.
"But I tell you in all frankness: it is a contradiction to be in favor of liberalizing Europe's membership but against opening up its economy."
Tony Blair was optimistic, enthusiastic and eager to lead Europe to a better future. The question is whether other EU members will be equally eager to follow.
With Britain taking over the EU presidency for the next six months, Mr Blair had to present his plan for getting the organization out of crisis - a crisis he himself was blamed for. But with the right leadership, he believes the EU can recover and get back on the road to bright future.
To that end, Blair said the EU needs to turn from CAP (the Common Agricultural Policy) to R&D. Instead of spending 40 percent of budget money on agriculture, the EU should concentrate on innovation, following in the footsteps of India and China. It should modernize its social model, adopt a disciplined and flexible macroeconomic framework and start to really implement the Lisbon Agenda.
Tony Blair is also a great advocate of EU enlargement and declares himself a friend and protector of the 10 new members, showing no fear of the notorious Polish plumber.
"Be under no illusion: if we stop enlargement or shut out its natural consequences, it wouldn't, in the end, save one job, keep one firm in business, prevent one delocalization.
"But I tell you in all frankness: it is a contradiction to be in favor of liberalizing Europe's membership but against opening up its economy."
Tony Blair was optimistic, enthusiastic and eager to lead Europe to a better future. The question is whether other EU members will be equally eager to follow.
