"By accepting to sign up to the fiscal Treaty, the Heads of State and Government of 25 Member States have taken their responsibilities seriously and decided to tackle the budgetary complacency which is eating away at our economy", said the Chairman of the EPP Group during a debate on the outcome of the European Council of 30 January 2012.

Joseph Daul emphasised that the most urgent matter now is to ratify this Treaty and, above all, implement it, because "a Treaty that isn't implemented, is a useless Treaty." He also welcomed the safeguarding of the Community method, thanks to the European Parliament.

However, the Chairman of the biggest Group in the European Parliament said that the measures announced by the European Council on growth "are unsatisfactory".

"Everything must be done to develop growth and employment. Not by spending money that we don't have, as the Socialists would like, but by making the European economy more competitive, as the EPP Group has recommended."

"This will happen by finally completing the internal market and I ask the European Commission to publish the list of countries who are playing by the rules and those who are blocking the single market."

"This will also happen by reducing burdens on entrepreneurs and reducing the differences in these burdens between the Member States."

"Finally, we should make use of unused European funds for joint investment projects instead of giving it back to Member States", concluded Mr Daul.

Joseph Daul's speech in plenary

(Translation from the original French)

For further information:

Joseph DAUL MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group, Tel: +32-2-2847525

Antoine Ripoll, Chairman's Spokesman, Tel: +32-475-856290

Delia Vlase, Chairman's Deputy Spokeswoman, Tel: +32-476-331038

Notes to Editors:

The EPP Group is by far the largest political group in the European Parliament with 271 Members.