Saturday

9th Dec 2023

Other EU problems should come before constitution, says Barroso

  • Mr Barroso was accused of interfering in local Slovak politics during his visit (Photo: European Commission)

European commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has warned against member states trying to revive the EU constitution before other European problems are solved.

Speaking during a visit to Slovakia, Mr Barroso rejected what he called "floating ideas" on how to revive the constitution.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

"It is premature to deal with the institutions, while there is no clear consensus on where to go," he said.

"We should have a policy-driven agenda, so people can see the benefits of the European Union," he said, underlining the need for a common energy policy and a strong internal market.

Mr Barroso's comments came only a few days after Berlin suggested adopting the text under the new name "Basic Treaty for Europe". It was also the main topic at the centre-right European People’s Party congress in Rome last month.

The EU constitution has been on ice since last year when France and the Netherlands rejected the document in referendums. Since then member states have been divided about what to do with the charter.

Several ideas have been floated including revising the text of the constitution.

However, Mr Barroso announced that the commission will present its own ideas on what to do next with the constitution in May.

Local politics

During his Slovakia visit, the commission president also became embroiled in local politics after he was accused of interfering in the country's pre-election campaign.

Mr Barroso praised the reformist drive of the Slovak government, underlining that Slovakia "should continue to vigorously implement and improve its reform programme."

"June's general election should not divert too much attention away from this essential task," he added.

His statements came as Slovakia prepares for its general elections on 17 June and led to some sharp criticism.

The country's main opposition party (Smer-Social Democrats) called Mr Barroso’s comments unacceptable and accused him of "making political propaganda, while promoting harmful right-wing experiments, rejected even in Portugal."

The reforms are set to be central to Slovakia's election battle between the centre-right party of prime minister Mikulas Dzurinda and the centre-left opposition, which has signalled it would cancel some of the economic reforms introduced in past years.

Mr Barroso distanced himself from Slovak domestic politics saying he only emphasised commitments linked to the EU's Lisbon strategy and agreed at the European level.

Since 2002, the Slovak centre-right government has carried out several reforms, including labour market, pension and health care reforms.

It also introduced a 19 percent flat tax on individuals and corporations. The Slovak economy grew by 5.6 percent last year, while the budget deficit fell to 2.9 percent.

However, the unemployment rate remains the second highest in the EU, with the burden falling particularly hard on women and young people.

Polish truck protest at Ukraine border disrupts war supplies

Disruption at the Polish-Ukrainian border by disaffected Polish truckers is escalating, potentially affecting delivery of military aid to Ukraine. A Polish request to reintroduce permits for Ukrainian drivers has been described as "a shot to the head" during war.

Brussels denies having no 'concern' on Spain's amnesty law

The Spanish government remains secretive about its negotiations with pro-independence Catalans, but claims the EU Commission has "zero concerns" about their proposed amnesty law for Catalan separatists. The EU executive denies that.

Interview

Why populism appeals to less brainy EU voters

People who voted for Brexit tended to be less clever, research shows, in findings that also shed light on the appeal of EU populists, such as Dutch politician Geert Wilders, who won elections this week.

Analysis

How Wilders' Dutch extremism goes way beyond Islamophobia

Without losing sight of his pervasive Islamophobia, it is essential to note Geert Wilders' far-right extremism extends to other issues that could drastically alter the nature of Dutch politics — and end its often constructive role in advancing EU policies.

Opinion

Tusk's difficult in-tray on Poland's judicial independence

What is obvious is that PiS put in place a set of interlocking safeguards for itself which, even after their political defeat in Poland, will render it very difficult for the new government to restore the rule of law.

Opinion

Can Green Deal survive the 2024 European election?

Six months ahead of the EU elections, knocking an 'elitist' climate agenda is looking like a vote-winner to some. Saving the Green Deal and the EU's climate ambitions starts with listening to Europeans who are struggling to make ends meet.

Latest News

  1. How Moldova is trying to control tuberculosis
  2. Many problems to solve in Dubai — honesty about them is good
  3. Sudanese fleeing violence find no haven in Egypt or EU
  4. How should EU reform the humanitarian aid system?
  5. EU suggests visa-bans on Israeli settlers, following US example
  6. EU ministers prepare for all-night fiscal debate
  7. Spain's Nadia Calviño backed to be EIB's first female chief
  8. Is there hope for the EU and eurozone?

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersJoin the Nordic Food Systems Takeover at COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersHow women and men are affected differently by climate policy
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  5. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  6. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us