Barroso: EU Must Become Federal Political Body

Bulgaria in EU | September 12, 2012, Wednesday // 14:48|  views

European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso present his flagship plans to the parliament in his annual State of the Union speech at a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. EPA/BGNES

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has crafted a strong call for radically closer political ties amongst EU countries in his yearly State of the Union address in front of the European Parliament.

"A deep and genuine economic and monetary union, a political union, with a coherent foreign and defense policy, means ultimately that the present European Union must evolve. Let’s not be afraid of the words: we will need to move towards a federation of nation states. This is what we need. This is our political horizon," stated Barroso.

While the EC President stressed that this does not mean "a superstate," he insisted that EU members must form a united, coherent and vibrant political body in the form of a "federation of nation states."

He said to that effect, changes of the EU Treaties must be implemented to facilitate more streamlined decision making and a more Union-based approach in member states' economic, fiscal and external policies.

"Let me be very clear: in Europe, we need no more walls dividing us! Because the European Union is stronger as a whole in keeping the integrity of its single market, its membership and in its institutions," stressed Barroso.

In particular, the EC President stated that public debate on Europe must be broadened and deepened, to add a long-discussed politicization to the EU.

Barroso argued that for upcoming European Parliament elections in 2014, European political parties should present their candidate for next EC President and their policy goals should they win the vote.

He added that "pro-European forces" across the continent must be mobilized to counteract the surging wave of "nationalism and populism" that according to him would lead countries nowhere.

The EC President said that the Commission plans to present ideas for an EU Treaty change ahead of the 2014 elections.

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Tags: federal, Federation, elections, Jose Manuel Barroso, European Commission, European parliament, political parties, EC, nationalism, populism, State of the Union, EU Treaties, EU Treaty

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