Andrew Rettman
EUObserver
BRUSSELS – European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso has told the Chinese public that the EU is going to become a fully-fledged “political union” after the financial crisis.
Speaking to TV cameras after a meeting with Chinese leader Wen Jiabao in Bejing on Tuesday (14 February), he noted the EU has recently witnessed mass strikes and protests, including violent clashes in Greece.
“It is true that in many of our member states there have been student protests and strikes. This is normal in our open societies, where people have a right to protest,” he said.
He added the crisis has prompted a new wave of closer integration however, citing the fiscal treaty agreed last month by 25 EU countries.
“I want to make this very clear to Chinese public opinion. Because I understand when you see the news you may be putting some questions. Is the European Union really going to progress? And I say ‘Yes. No doubts about it’ … Precisely because of the problems in the euro area the conclusion has been to further integrate and to complete the monetary union with a fiscal union and, I believe, in the future toward a political union.”
Read More: Barroso to China: EU is not falling apart
Cartoon by Bob Moran
