25th May will be an important public debate and all Europeans will renew
a few weeks later. We know that the Commission
will be renewed, so it is an important democratic moment.
Democracy is the debate of ideas, conflict between points of view and proposals.
It is important to say that MEPs have a role. They create law that affects everyday lives
of companies, consumers and citizens.
Europe has been hit by violent crises that have caused a lot of pain,
unemployment, difficulties and doubts. It is now a moment of truth.
Citizens and leaders must ask themselves what they want.
In this book, I try to explain that
if we don’t react together, learn lessons,
if we don't launch new policies or reconnect citizens with Europe,
our liberty as Europeans is at stake. We'll loose it.
We will become subcontractors controlled by big powers
like the US and China. I highlight 8 issues where we need to act
to preserve our freedom. For example, my work as commissioner for 4 years
was to make us independent from the financial markets, to have healthy and free markets
and to be free to control our economy together.
Industry – Europe is losing employment and manufacturing capabilities.
We must restore key sectors, strategies, technologies and our investment capacity.
Energy – as we have seen in Ukraine, it is important
that we are energy-independent and produce more.
Today we produce less and less, but consume more and more. This cannot last.
Population will decrease. This is another sector to which Europeans must respond together.
If we lose our economic freedom, the welfare model, democracy and our dealings with the outside world will disappear.
so will our capacity to defend ourselves and to tackle instability and insecurity.
I have identified 8 areas where we must work together to safeguard our freedom.
Concerning the internal elections of the EPP I believe in public debate and the conflict between points of view
and I wanted to take part to this conflicts.
The EPP democratically chose its candidate that I support– Jean-Claude Juncker.
I have no problem with this, my European commitment and convictions remain intact.
This is what I explain in my book which could be useful during the debate on European elections.
You ask me “What would I have done?” – I answer: "What must be done?”
The question remains. In this book,
the 7 or 8 areas in which we need to fight together for our liberty:
that is what we must do. I try to express this through concrete strategies.
This book contains thirty proposals.
This office must be the service of these strategies.
The Commission is the guardian of the Treaties, which is not always easy nor attractive,
but someone has to ensure they are respected.
It must facilitate a dialogue between the European Parliament,
the member states and the Council of ministers.
Then it must provide strategies. This is what it must do.
In the area I was assigned to, with the support of president Barroso,
I provided strategies: improve our economic independence, regulation
transparency of financial markets, in order to secure our freedom.
We progressed in other areas, but don’t forget that only 6 years ago
Europe was hit by financial, economic and debt crises.
We have only just emerged. We will emerge stronger from this crisis
thanks to the work of the Commission and other institutions.
Now is the moment of truth when we'll learn lessons from the financial crisis.
We must take initiative on the aforementioned strategies.
I have walked the straight and narrow. I served the public interest.
I engaged myself before the court of justice like my colleagues.
I never tried to be popular and definitely not populist.
A moment will come, and soon,
when people will recognise the work that was done to learn from the crisis
by promoting transparency, regulation and morals where there were none.
I have done my job and others are free to judge it.
Certain things are clear: I said I would be a candidate at the EP elections
if the EPP needed me by choosing me as spokesperson
and candidate for the Commission presidency. Their choice was different
and so I will not run for those elections.
My commitment and convictions remain the same. There are many places where one can be useful.
I got experience and expertise
by working for 4.5 years on the financial markets.
My passion as a French and European citizen remains and I will express it differently.
I still do not know where, but I will continue to serve the public interest, my country and Europe.