BRUSSELS – On Thursday 14 March 2013 at the invitation of ALDE Party President Sir Graham Watson MEP, European Liberal Democrat leaders met at the Concert Noble in Brussels ahead of the European Council meeting.

Issues discussed included the negotiations on the European budget 2014-2020 as well as the situation in Hungary, Italy, Russia, Slovenia and the deteriorating situation in Syria.

Speaking ahead of the European Council meeting, Sir Graham called on the EU’s 27 Heads of state and Prime Ministers to make a real commitment to restoring financial stability, addressing the root causes of the crisis and laying the ground for a return to growth and jobs. “The measures they are discussing contain little new: many have been discussed for years but with little action resulting. As Mark Twain observed, ‘when all is said and done there’s a lot more said than done’,” he said.

“It is the Member states which have not completed the Single Market. It is the Member states that are holding up the free trade agreements that will help to get jobs and growth back across Europe. It is the Member states that are failing to exercise fiscal responsibility to bring down their cost of borrowing. There has to be an agreement between 27 and there has to be a real commitment.”

“All the right intentions are there, but this time around it has to be for real. Unless they really act now – to keep down the cost of borrowing and to stimulate trade – we risk the whole of Southern Europe going up in flames.”