On the occasion of his mid-term mandate, Jerzy BUZEK, EP President, addresses MEPs on a formal sitting in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Strasbourg

plenary session

speech

BUZEK, Jerzy (EPP, PL)

election of the President of the European Parliament (T)

Mid-term address by Jerzy BUZEK, EP President: extracts from the formal sitting

SOUNDBITE (English), Jerzy Karol BUZEK, EP President, As the President of the European Parliament, I represent all of you. Wherever I go, whatever I do, I have always felt the honour and responsibility of acting on behalf of this prestigious Chamber.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Jerzy Karol BUZEK, EP President, Our Parliament has asked for ambitious reforms from the European Commission and from the Council. For a start we have voted for key financial reforms such as the Financial Supervision Package, regulations on limiting bankers' bonuses as well as the own resources of banks. We have placed an important cornerstone in the 'protection wall' safeguarding citizens against future financial crises.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Jerzy Karol BUZEK, EP President, The crisis has shown us how important European solidarity is. I went there where it was particularly hard. I conveyed our message of solidarity, always underlining that there is no solidarity without responsibility! We managed to a great extent to extinguish the crisis in Greece. We managed the patient in the emergency room, but we need to get the patient to walk on his own, to the exit. We need economic governance and a true exit strategy.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Jerzy Karol BUZEK, EP President, I would like that this name "European Energy Community" becomes a "brand name" of all actions in this field". On the need to give an impulse to this energy policy so the European citizens are protected in case on need by this 'European umbrella'.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Jerzy Karol BUZEK, EP President, on the vote that just took place on the European External Action Service: "The European External Action Service will soon be the face of our European power. We negotiated hard with the Council so that this Service is a modern one and represents a community point of view and the community interest of Europe. The compromise package was positive for all sides and we should congratulate all those involved in the debate.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Jerzy Karol BUZEK, EP President, It was a very important moment. The United States administration and other partners understood the weight of the post-Lisbon Parliament. I trust that in years to come, historians will look at back at the SWIFT experience, and say, it was that moment that the European Parliament truly acted in the interests of citizens ensuring the correct balance between security, and the protection of civil liberties.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Jerzy Karol BUZEK, EP President, When Liu Xiaobo received the Nobel Prize, I repeated my appeal for his immediate and unconditional release.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Jerzy Karol BUZEK, EP President, I am committed to use the Sakharov Prize Network as an effective tool in our fight for human dignity. Human Rights activists can have the certainty that we care about their fate.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Jerzy Karol BUZEK, EP President, As President of the European Parliament I have been fully been engaged in building up our position in respect to the other European institutions on the basis of the Lisbon Treaty.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Jerzy Karol BUZEK, EP President, Our goal is to come out of this crisis and to safeguard our citizens against another one. This crisis was not born in Europe but it has to be eradicated here, in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Jerzy Karol BUZEK, EP President, Now it is up to us - to shape how the 21st century will be in the European Union. This is the battle which is worth fighting for. With colleagues like you, I am not afraid to take this battle on. Thank you" (end of speech) Applause from the chamber.