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EPP debates how to make Europe a safer place

Date

15 May 2009

Sections

EU Priorities 2020

The EPP held a debate today entitled “Making Europe a Safer Place", one of its five priorities for the forthcoming European elections.

The participants, including Stefaan DE CLERCK, Minister of Justice in Belgium; Peter ALTMAIER, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior of Germany; Kinga GÁL, Vice-Chairwoman of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs in the European Parliament; and Wilfried MARTENS, President of the EPP; debated the possible measures to deal with a large range of issues linked to security, illegal immigration, human trafficking, terrorism, and food safety.

All participants agreed that more cooperation between the Member States of the European Union (EU) is needed to successfully tackle these challenges.

Peter Altmaier underlined that there is no contradiction between freedom and security, and that relevant achievements have been made in the field of security and justice thanks to politicians belonging to the EPP political family.

Mr. De Clerck pointed out that the Lisbon Treaty would be a useful tool in strengthening the cooperation between the EU Member States; and that mutual recognition of decisions and confidence between the national authorities is fundamental if we want to make progress in the field of security, justice and liberty.

In this context, Kinga Gal said that it is our obligation to make Europe a safer place for the next generations, and that security must not only be physical but also moral.

President Wilfried Martens stated that security is and will be a key issue for the EPP. The electoral document of the EPP, adopted two weeks ago in Poland by all the EPP member parties, includes a chapter on this topic.

Today’s debate is part of the events organised by the EPP to explain its political proposals for the next European elections.

For more information: EPP Press Officer, Javier Jiménez, Tel: +32 2 285 41 56

http://www.epp.eu/index.php