Watson - Europe must keep the door open to trade

9.11.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 14th Mar 2008

Addressing the Commission and Council in Strasbourg on Wednesday 12 March, ahead of the Spring European Council meeting to assess progress in raising competitiveness of the European economy and responding to the dual challenges of climate change and financial instability, local Liberal Democrat MEP Graham Watson, who leads the Group of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament underlined that it was more important than ever that political consensus is reached on an open trade policy and investment in innovation and training.

"Despite strong headwinds in the form of financial turbulence and volatility in energy prices, the fundamentals of the European economy remain sound," said Watson. "We should not lose sight of the fact that open markets are our most powerful tool for securing more jobs and higher living standards."

"The integration of the world economy is not a zero sum game. While the EU's share of that economy may be shrinking, its overall growth means we continue to create jobs and wealth."

"The impact of climate change is now rightly being considered a threat to security and the recent report from the EU's High Representative is right to highlight the external dimension of the challenges that lie ahead. I regret that some Member States are already blinded by short term economic thinking and seeking to wiggle out of commitments they made this time last year."