EPP Group Bureau Meeting in Amsterdam: European solutions work

The responsible political line of the European People’s Party (EPP) is paying off, the EPP Group Chairman Joseph Daul declared while opening the EPP Group Bureau Meeting in Amsterdam today.

"The policy is to have sound finances to achieve solid growth. This needs courage, but it works", Daul stated. He pointed to the return of economic growth in Greece. In Portugal, unemployment is falling, Spain is welcoming back investors, economic growth in Latvia is a staggering 4%.

"One cannot throw away money like the Socialists do. Look at France, which is paralysed by the Socialists’ policy. We have to hold on to our policy, defend our values and not give in to populist parties, for the sake of a safer and more prosperous Europe."

The Head of the Dutch Delegation of the EPP Group, Wim van de Camp MEP, agreed: "The debate should not be about being pro or anti-Europe. It should be about what kind of Europe we want. It should be a Europe for the people."

“Working on solutions does not usually attract many headlines”, noted Sybrand Buma, Party Leader of the Dutch Christian-Democrat Party, the CDA. However, it remains necessary for a better Europe. "There is so much to strive for. We believe in society as a binding force", he said.

One of the main priorities is fighting the unacceptable high unemployment rates, EPP Group Vice-Chairwoman Corien Wortmann-Kool told the audience. "We must pool our efforts to prevent a lost generation in some Member States. We must make the best of opportunities."

Former Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende noted too much negativism in Europe. "We need a winning mentality! Face it: Europe is attractive again. I hear investors now talking about Poland instead of China", he said.

Balkenende stressed the need to talk about values, not just money and currencies. "We need to revitalise a value-oriented approach young people will understand."