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European Parliament President visits Berlin
Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle met Martin Schulz, the President of the European Parliament, on 8 May during the latter’s first official visit to Berlin. Westerwelle congratulated Schulz on being elected President of the European Parliament in January 2012
Westerwelle with European Parliament President Schulz
© AA
Westerwelle with European Parliament President Schulz
Westerwelle with European Parliament President Schulz
© AA
The main topic of their talks was the current situation in Europe. Westerwelle stressed the need to supplement the fiscal compact with a pact on growth, in order to strengthen the Economic and Monetary Union. Westerwelle and Schulz both agreed that crisis management alone was not enough. Attention also needed to be devoted to the future development of Europe. Both men were of the opinion that the European Parliament would have an important role to play in that.
Westerwelle and Schulz agreed to continue their discussion on these issues at a later date.
The Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union, called the “fiscal compact”, is the contractual basis for a further enhanced coordination in fiscal and economic policy. In it, the Heads of State and Government commit themselves especially to enacting uniform and permanently binding budgetary rules in their national legislation. The compact was signed by the Heads of State and Government of 25 EU countries at the European Council in early March. It will enter into force on 1 January 2013, provided it is ratified by at least 12 eurozone countries.
Last updated 08.05.2012