José Manuel Barroso knocks out Cathy Ashton
European Commission President José-Manuel Barroso kicked out High Representative Cathy Ashton today. He landed in the press room at the midday briefing to make a rather long statement on the Libyan situation before lending himself to the game of questions and answers (two only) with the journalists. He was alone, without the High Representative, who is also Vice-President of the European Commission. The declaration of José-Manuel - who has made himself the spokesperson on several occasions for "the European Union and the Commission" - was intended to be very political. It contained strong words. The President of the Commission also wanted to be constructive for the future Summit of the 27 on Libya, putting forward the idea of a "pact for democracy" and solutions for the mobility of young people. But he made a total impasse: the immediate security of the country.
Gaddafi is a problem not the solution
Barroso didn't have enough harsh words for Gaddafi. " The completely unacceptable actions of the Libyan regime in recent weeks have made it clear that Colonel Gaddafi is part of the problem and not part of the solution. It is time for him to leave and return the country to the people of Libya. The situation we see in Libya is simply tragic. We can't accept it »
Alongside the Arab street and democracy
Adding a little further. addressed to the Arab world and young people who are fighting for freedom and democracy. "We are on your side". Drawing the parallel with the battles for democracy in southern Europe, first, in central and eastern Europe, "while some said that this fight for democracy he explained. "Yes, I believe that Arabs are fit for democracy. And we're on their side".
A Pact for Democracy and Shared Prosperity
Apart from the announcement of an increase in European humanitarian aid from 3 to 10 million euros (an expected increase anyway) and an appeal to the Member States to respond to the appeal of the High Commissioner for Refugees to Faced with "at least 140.000 refugees" arriving in neighboring countries, José-Manuel Barroso's objective was to present leads for the special European summit on Libya, convened for March 11.
The President of the European Commission thus called for a "new political paradigm" in relations with the southern neighborhood, to a "Pact for Democracy and Shared Prosperity". A Pact which will redirect the current budget devoted to the neighborhood (4 billion euros) towards certain priority actions: democracy and constitutional reforms, judicial reforms and support for non-state actors (NGOs, trade unions, media and organizations of women).
He also wants the EBRD - the European bank for reconstruction and development, which has accompanied the transformations in the Eastern countries - to change its statutes and "be more active in the south". Finally, he presented a project to "open up societies" in the south by encouraging mobility. "We are ready to offer mobility partnerships to countries (visas for students, researchers, etc.), under certain conditions"
« The European Union and the Commission are fully committed to supporting (these countries) on their way to democracy and a better future " he added.
For security, see the Member States
On the other hand, he refused to advance in any concrete solution. On the presence of refugees at the Tunisian border, he affirmed the availability of the Commission but said he relied on the Member States "They are the ones who have the planes".
On the "no-fly zone". (question asked by a journalist), Barroso returned the ball... to the Libyans. " We must do everything so that the current regime leaves power, it does not even have the means to ensure its order, a regime which systematically kills its own citizens cannot remain; but we want it to be a solution found by the Libyans themselves. »
