EU faces taxing times

News emanating from the European Union has been rather negative over the last months. This has resulted from the perceived inability of EU leaders to steer us out of the turbulent economic climate that continues to linger over the eurozone and Europe in general.

… the road to recovery, albeit potentially long and treacherous, will not be an unattainable goal- David Casa

These are uncertain times for Europe and beyond. These are times in which important decisions must be taken to enable the EU to get its house in order and get back on track in order to continue to generate economic growth. Notwithstanding the palpable uncertainty, Brussels has not come to a standstill. An astounding number of projects financed by the EU are still on course.

European institutions are working overtime in order to address and find solutions to remaining deficiencies in the wider governance structures of the Union and to reassert confidence in the European project. Indeed, as most commentators have highlighted, the solution lies in more rather than less Europe.

Had it not been for the EU, there is no doubt that many countries would have been in far bigger trouble.

Through recently implemented measures and the obligation that national governments adhere to the new financial frameworks and fiscal regulations, the road to recovery, albeit potentially long and treacherous, will not be an unattainable goal.

Careless fiscal regimes and practices were the main reason for our stint on the very edge of an economic precipice. We have been here before but lessons learnt in the past have proved insufficient.

Let us hope that this time around we will be more committed not to make the same mistakes again.

The fact that EU membership remains the focus of national aspirations in our European neighbourhood was proved by the Croatians this week with an overwhelming majority voting in favour of EU accession in a referendum. In these days of uncertainty, no one can afford to remain isolated and the power to move forward is enhanced through unity.

Joining the EU is not just a matter of economic stability but also a matter of ensuring that citizens’ rights are protected, that our children grow up in a better and cleaner environment and are given every opportunity to prosper.

The news from Croatia is recognition of all of this. Croatians have managed to see through the mist that currently obscures the EU’s fundamental achievements and took the courageous step to say yes. This will, hopefully, mark the beginning of a new chapter for the Balkan states in general which, hardly a couple of decades ago, marred the history of Europe with a war notorious for its brutality.

I urge all Croatians and Serbs and their Balkan neighbours to look forward towards a better future. The war can never be forgotten but slowly and surely they can rebuild on what is left and start to cooperate for the benefit of all their citizens.

I am sure that many books will be written about this era, an era that we form part of. And I have no doubt that the EU will always be recognised throughout the world for its ability to build bridges among historical antagonists.

We, as members of this union, are in duty bound to make it a success. These are exciting times that we have the privilege to form part of. Let us use this window of change to do our utmost to forge a stronger and more united Europe.

Mr Casa is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.