Blair calls for economic reforms in EU

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, yesterday, urged European Union leaders to press ahead with economic reforms and warned that the European Union’s economic summit in Barcelona in 2002 would be "make or break" for economic reforms.

In a strong worded speech in Brazil, Blair insisted that the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, energy and financial services liberalisation have to be dealt with immediately. He added that the summit in Barcelona would be a “real test of our collective European leadership.”

According to the Guardian, Blair’s spokesman said that the Prime Minister was deliberately making the speech in Latin America, in order to draw attention to the fact that Europe needs to reform itself before it wanted other parts of the world to accept greater economic liberalism. "You cannot argue for reform in Latin America unless you are prepared to face up to the need to modernise and liberalise outdated industries in Europe,” said the spokesman.

Blair also pointed out the importance of the introduction of the Euro notes and coins a couple of months before the summit. However, his spokesman insisted that this speech was not about the single currency but about liberalisation.