17 March 2008
The European Union has the opportunity to "move beyond institutional issues to create a more outward-looking, flexible, global Europe", the PM has said.
In a statement to the House of Commons, Mr Brown said that action on greater financial transparency, reduction targets for carbon emissions and the creation of a ‘Union for the Mediterranean’ were all agreed at the European Council meeting last week.
The PM said:
"With the completion of the Lisbon treaty, we now have an opportunity to move beyond institutional issues to create a more outward-looking, flexible, global Europe and to address the challenges that matter most to the citizens of Europe…our aim is that European countries working together lead the way on climate change, on security, on international development and on the response to global financial turbulence."
The primary concern of the EU Council was "a deteriorating global economic outlook" and how best to deal with the effects of the ongoing credit crunch. Measures were agreed in Brussels on improving financial market transparency and disclosure, better risk management and action on credit rating agencies. The UK "will continue to take whatever action is necessary to maintain economic stability," said Mr Brown.
On climate change, the Council agreed a schedule for adopting a package of measures to cut EU emissions by 20 per cent by 2020. The Prime Minister said that the role of economic measures such as VAT rates would be examined to increase the use of energy efficient goods and materials.
A Union for the Mediterranean will be set up in July to "provide a framework for co-operation" between the 27 countries of the European Union and the wider region, he added.
Gordon Brown will meet President Sarkozy next week ahead of the French Presidency of the EU that begins in July. The next European Council meeting, under the Slovenian presidency, takes place in June.
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