20.10.2011
By Simon Miller
President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy has warned of "scheming minds" looking to profit out of the eurozone crisis.
In what could be seen as a veiled warning to the UK government, Van Rompuy used a speech marking the departure of Jean-Claude Trichet, the European Central Bank president, to warn of the "great enemy" of the European model.
"The great enemy of any project is the scheming mind that asks "What do I get out of it?" The "fair return", so to speak," he said.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron is facing a growing rebellion from his own MPs who are looking to vote in favour of a referendum on the future relationship of the country with the European Union.
Van Rompuy added: "The scheming mind is very much present nowadays. Those who say they want less Europe should be answered with more Europe. It's a slogan, but sometimes slogans are true."
The president also warned that although national parliaments should have their say over contributions to the eurozone, "it is dangerous to let the fate of the world economy depend on domestic policy squabbles within the parliament of one of the 17 countries, large or small".
He also urged the euro area to stick together as each member holds the fate of the eurozone in their hands.
"I would stress that solidarity consists, therefore, not merely in receiving but also in giving," Van Rompuy commented. "Solidarity within the euro area is a matter of necessity and survival. A lax national policy is therefore contrary to the spirit of solidarity."
Despite the incoming Stability Growth Pact and the Euro-Plus Pact, Van Rompuy said the eurozone needed to go further with both "fiscal discipline and economic and fiscal integration".
He continued: "Not only to punish the sinners but also to link our policies together, and demonstrate that we share a common destiny. We need to acknowledge that this means a loss of sovereignty of all, and not only for the countries in difficulty."
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