EU summit

Commenting on the EU summit of heads of government in Brussels Daniel Cohn-Bendit calls for a "New Green Deal" to relaunch the economy. The European Investment Bank should strengthen its role to contribute to a vast investment strategy covering financial, social and climatic affairs.

Commenting on the EU summit of heads of government in Brussels, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, copresident of the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament, said:

"It is good that EU leaders meet today to talk about saving the economy but if we don't already discuss how to relaunch it, we will lose precious time and pay dearly in the long run.

To relaunch the economy we need a "New Green Deal". Given that Europe faces recession, falling investment and rising unemployment, the Greens see it as essential to kick-start a vast investment plan to support growth, create jobs and ensure households' purchasing power. We also need this investment strategy to attain energy efficiency and CO2 reduction goals.

The European Investment Bank should have a strengthened role to contribute towards these objectives.  The successful relaunch of the economy can only be achieved through concerted Europe-wide action, not efforts limited to national level. We need the spirit of Keynes in Brussels."

Press Service of the Greens/EFA Group
in the European Parliament

Chris Coakley,
Press Officer,
The Greens/EFA in the European Parliament
Tel: Brussels +32 2 2841667 / Strasburg +33 3 88174375
Mobile: +32-477-44-38-42
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email: chris.coakley@europarl.europa.eu