FEB.26.2013- Belgian MEP and former european commissionner Louis MICHEL gave a passionating conference this tuesday morning at the European Parliament.

For his liberal friends of Schaerbeek led by Georges VERZIN, and the vice-presidents Anne Monseu-Ducarme and Latifa Ait-Baala,  Louis Michel gave a conference: “the added value of Europe“.  In less than two hours, Louis Michel, with his experience of minister of foreign affairs of Belgium, european commissionner for development aid and now MEP, is the right man to give an accurate opinion about european affairs and particularly the added value of Europe.

Louis Michel felt during the debates he attended with lots of voters from different backgrounds that the citizens are extremely disappointed about Europe -while the idea of Europe is fascinating other citizens of Europe- and its way of working. Louis Michel is sad about that because he recalled that the firts idea of Europe was creating a long era of peace in the whole continent.

The founders of Europe created prosperity by introducing a free market, which should consequently bring more freedom for the citizens: freedom to move, freedom to buy, sell, and exchange with other europeans.The first structures  of Europe were so brilliant and fascinating they were used in Africa for the pan-african union.

Louis Michel is angry when he hears people saying there too many civil servants into the European Union. Only 23906 for the commission and 6135 for the EP. He recalled the importance of the european institutions for Brussels and the richness created by their presence. In Brussels there 285 diplomatic missions, 2197 international organisations and 5244 diplomats. it means these people live, eat, spend money in Brussels which has positive consequences for the brussels economy and the prosperity of the whole region.

When some countries take argument of the crisis to criticise Europe -while 94% of the European budget is later paid off to the member states throught different interventions and aids- and prevent progress of the Union, there should be a mecanism in the treaties to expell this countries from the EU, with a qualified majority. Louis Michel thought seriously to United Kingdom by saying that.

Louis Michel endorsed the idea of the Eurobonds created by his friend Guy Verhofstadt. A part of the gain of the eurobonds could be used to reimburse the sovereign debts and the other part could go to restructurating parts of the european industry.

Answering to a participant Louis Michel said he absolutely wants the widening of Europe to Turkey where he went some months ago. he considers that Turks have always been loyal particpants to the NATO and Turkey is a big market for european citizens while young turks consider the idea of Europe as appealing tot hem. he adds that the founding fathers of Europe never included the idea of a common religion to be part of the Union, answering so to right-wing opponents to the widening of the EU to Turkey. Event he founding fathers of Europe never said that membership of Europe was linked to geography and to all the countries in the same continent, even as for many people it seems obvious. Louis Michel recalled the projects with Morocco.

As a longtime politician, Louis Michel has a broad vision of the future of Europe and even the future of the world and he is always very intresting with lots of british humor -even if he doesnt’t like the attitude of British towards the EU- and friendliness for his audience.

Miguel D. DESNERCK