European Council: mixed results.

The European Council of 1 and 2 March brought some good, but also some less good news.

Amongst the good news, the signature of the new Treaty on budgetary discipline. "Only two Member States refuse to learn the lessons of the debt crisis and are isolating themselves in the process of building a political Europe that shows itself to be more indispensable each day," noted the Chairman of the EPP Group.

A choice for stability saw Herman Van Rompuy's mandate at the head of the European Council prolonged and his nomination as head of Eurozone summits. "This is good news for Europe. I commend the discreet and efficient work of President Van Rompuy," continued Mr Daul.

"The third piece of good news is the granting to Serbia of candidate country status for accession to the EU. This generates positive prospects for the country and for the Balkans. I hope the conditions allowing a date to be set for the start of negotiations with FYROM will also be met."

But the Chairman of the EPP Group strongly regretted that the European Council didn't signal that growth and employment must now be Europe's priorities. Unemployment of 10.7% and the recession foreseen for 2012 prohibit any further delay in the definition and implementation of measures to address the situation and renew confidence in citizens.

Joseph Daul also criticised Holland's veto against entry for Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen zone. "Either these countries meet the criteria and must be accepted without delay. Or they don't and then it is up to the Commission to say so, not one isolated Member State."

"Finally, the EPP Group does not accept the refusal of the Dutch government to condemn the PVV's scandalous website. We still call on them to explain themselves before MEPs," concluded Mr Daul.