On the theme of: ‘After the Lisbon Treaty – What can Citizens Expect? – Moving from Design to Delivery’, President van Rompuy stressed the evolutionary rather than the revolutionary nature of the treaty changes brought about by the Lisbon Treaty.

He pointed to the enhanced role for the European Parliament and National Parliaments as evidence of greater democratic legitimacy, to the entrenching of fundamental rights with the adoption of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and to the improved framework for a unified external representation of the European Union.

As regards his own role as President of the Council, he remarked on the continuity of function for two and a half years, the political confidence in the Presidency indicated by the choice made by the Heads of State and Government and the freedom from national political responsibilities as being separately and collectively key advantages.
He emphasised that economic governance was high on his agenda from the start, acknowledging that this was now accentuated by the ‘Greek Crisis’.

The President observed that every Treaty has gaps and uncertainties but suggested that a key lesson of the current situation was ‘to deal more quickly with crises’. He added that he hoped to deal with the current challenges ‘within the framework of the Lisbon Treaty’.

By way of analogy President van Rompuy, asked about the impact of the Lisbon Treaty, quoted Zhou Enlai, the former Chinese Prime Minister, who, when asked for his opinion on the success of the French Revolution, said ‘it is far too early to say’.

The meeting was hosted by the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union and presided by Pat Cox, President of the European Movement International.
 
Links:
Watch the key note speech of Herman Van Rompuy, First Part Second Part
Download the key note speech, please click here
EMI picture gallery, please click here
Council picture gallery, please click here
 
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