Graham Watson MEP

A strong Netherlands in a strong Europe

Published on Monday 28th November 2011

Our Yes to Europe brings us a critical stance regarding the Euro-package, it is not yet complete. Is it possible to have a powerful and trustworthy Eurozone without adequate authorities, without clear sanctions, without a decisive European Commissioner controlled by the European Parliament? D66 thinks this is not possible. Our leaders should dare to walk in front. Whereas Dutch Prime Ministers were influential co-deciders for decades, this government trails afloat.

This government seems to choose the apparent easy road: for the Netherlands and against Europe. This is a false contradiction. It is an opportunistic attitude and hazardous populist. This is an attitude with which this government does not take away the concerns of people, but feeds them. It's an attitude with which the government does not diminish the distrust in Europe, but increases it. And it does not serve Dutch interests but hurts them instead.

You can call me a Europhile, you can call me a federalist, but free movement, one coin and one economy, should be complemented by one political union. I dare to dream about the United States of Europe. I look forward to the day that I as a Dutchman can vote for the leader of the European Liberals, Guy Verhofstadt. And I believe that one day the political leader of D66 will no longer reside in The Hague but will live in Brussels."

During a fringe meeting on the Rule of Law and EU Accession, chaired by ELDR Vice-President Lousewies van der Laan, MEP Sophie in't Veld commented on fundamental rights and shared values in the EU: "Democracy will always be work under construction. The accession of new countries urges us to be self-critical and to be vigilant. We have to live up to our own standards and values, otherwise the EU human rights narrative rings hollow. Without enforcement, human rights and fundamental values will become meaningless."

Eight young liberals from Southeast Europe (Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Turkey) actively participated in this meeting and presented their views on the value of EU rule of law standards and how the EU integration process is looked upon in their countries.