Michał Kamiński Speech on the reelection of José Manuel Barroso as European Commission President

The European Conservatives and Reformists Group will support President Barroso. We will do so not because we agree with the President in every matter. There are many views, which we do not share. Fist, I will mention President Barroso's enthusiastic support for the Lisbon Treaty. We do not subscribe to this enthusiastic support. But we do share the aversion and condemnation that the President has expressed toward all forms of nationalism and nationalistic egoism. Europe, our continent, which we want to continue to live in peace, has experienced a sea of tragedies at the hands of nationalistic chauvinism. We thank God that today we are living in a peaceful Europe.

We disagree will several points raised by President Barroso. It is our right to disagree and we will defend this right, although there are those who constantly question the simple fact that the people of Europe have chosen the European Conservatives and Reformists. And I promise you that they will continue to choose us. We will be here and our voices will be heard. For this reason - on behalf of our voters - we have the right to grant our support to the President in his difficult mission. I am very glad to hear that this Commission, the new Commission under the leadership of President Barroso, will direct its focus on our efforts to overcome the economic crisis. This is incredibly important and we are pleased that the ambitious program presented by the President seems to be genuinely aimed at the most important sectors where action is needed. This shows the importance of cooperation among the nations of Europe. This crisis affects everyone regardless of the structure and economy; regardless of the region in Europe where our countries are located. The crisis affects all of us, which is why we must fight it together.

Mr. President, while granting you support on behalf of our group, I would like to appeal to you that in the upcoming months Europe does not remain indifferent to events taking place in global politics. I must admit that, in my opinion, one of the most important tests for the Western World is the current situation in Iran. Iran is a country that does not hide its nuclear ambitions. The President of this country not only denies the horrific crime of the Holocaust, but threatens Israel with destruction. I believe that this kind of behaviour should have no place and cannot be accepted in the modern democratic world. Our group expects that the European Commission, which you preside, will firmly oppose the current undemocratic procedures and undemocratic policies of the current regime in Iran, which are aimed at our greatest ally in the Middle East, aimed at the state of Israel. We also anticipate that in foreign policy - and I am glad that the statements of Mr. Barroso underline this - the European Union will be the flag-bearer of individual rights and promote our common European values, also outside our borders.

We expect that in this difficult task that you are undertaking, in which you were not free of mistakes in the last tenure (although no one who deals with politics can be completely free of error, an unfortunate reality), you will hold high the flag of European values and will work for a Europe that embodies unity and solidarity. Thank you.

8th February 2012 - ECR Vice-Chairmen speak at Heritage Foundation