Veranstaltungsberichte
"Given the extent of the current economic and financial crisis, there are significant
challenges ahead. Although I do not count myself among those who believe that the
global recession is necessarily a prelude to political and social apocalypse, I think that
some of the current economic and financial problems will affect EU social cohesion,
political stability, energy and environmental matters, and foreign affairs. There will,
therefore, be a burgeoning European agenda of matters to address and deal with not
only this year but in the next few years as well. Before I turn to the agenda items, let
me deal first with the challenges."