Luxembourg Council’s Presidency and Greek Referendum -Paolo Magagnotti

04/07/2015

 

Luxembourg Council’s Presidency and Greek Referendum

in a Quite Worrying Moment of our EU History

 

Yesterday, Luxembourg marked the official launch of its presidency of the Council of the European Union. Luxembourg will hold the Presidency of the Council for the twelfth time in the second semester of 2015.

Tomorrow, one of the most worrying referendum in the history of European integration process will take place in Greece. They Greek people will decide whether or not to accept proposals aiming to save the country from a huge government borrowing.

The handover of a Council’s Presidency, despite its limited power, should also provide “refreshing” motivations, ideas  and inputs fostering advancements in the integration process for the benefit of European citizens and international stability.

A few hours prior to the official launch of the Presidency, prime minister Xavier Bettel was interviewed by the daily Luxembourg newspaper “Luxembourger Wort”, dealing with this faith is a part-time of this event for the country and the Grand Duchy’s role in the next six months.

The Luxembourg Presidency has outlined an approach having as goals: listen to citizens, support businesses, collaborate with partners and institutions in order to act in the interests of Europe.

Let’s hope that during the presidency of a Country which has always been in the forefront of an open and increasingly integrating European Union process all efforts will be made to regain the lost spirit and values of the European Project, comprising solidarity, and to regain citizens’ confidence in the European Union,

Regarding the irresponsible Greek situation, we need unfortunately to be aware that whatever will be the outcome, it must take us to admit a political failure inflicting a nasty gash in the EU project requiring a fast recovery. Let’s hope that, despite the undeniable Greek grave responsibilities in accumulating a huge public debts, Greek citizens will prove tomorrow more responsibilities that their political leaders of yesterday and today and  the EU member states – without justifying some flaws  among them - will succeed with their European institutions and other International actors in the quit challenging task to keep in the EU family a country which gave the name to Europe and  is origin of our democracy and a worldwide spread philosophy.

However, EU-politic strongly need to pursue sound goals favouring the well-being  of its citizens and peace and international stability, without  following irrational principles of some member states. 

 Paolo Magagnotti

EJ President