Excellencies,
Dear colleagues,
Dear Friends,

2012 is going to be yet another 'make or break' year for the European Union.

I might recall, the same was said about 2011, about 2010 and maybe even – I don’t remember - about 2009.

Last year, more and more, civil society, social networks and private groups took their fate in their own hands. Be it the Arab Spring, the Occupy Wall Street Movement in the US or the recent protests in Russia. TIME magazine recognised “the Protester” as the person of the year.

I believe, however, that this social, economic and political phenomenon is hiding a crucial fact: lack of leadership.

The European Union is a perfect example of this.

The Merkozy, go-it-alone, too-little-too-late strategies of the last two years have delivered nothing. On the contrary, they continue to drag on the crisis. Some call it even the sunset of Europe.

I agree.

If we continue like this, Europe will be faced with a long "Japanese winter" with no growth, with industrial stagnation, with demographic decline. Much as happened in Japan after their real estate and banking crisis during the early nineties.

A Japanese winter, that is if we choose NOT to act.
That is if we choose NOT to speak up.
That is if we choose NOT to be part of the solution.

Liberal democrats believe that the answer to the crisis is crystal clear - a more integrated Europe.

2012 should be the year, when European Union leaders go back to their roots.

2012 should be the year, when we bring back to life the Monnet principles.
 
2012 should be the year, when the European Union reinforces the community method and turns its back on the re-nationalisation of European policies.

2012 will hopefully be the year, when Europe will prove its critics wrong. The year when it emerges from the crisis more united, stronger and more self confident.

With one currency.
With one economic and fiscal policy.
With a revived internal market that extends opportunities to all our citizens and companies.

A Union that speaks with one voice and leads the world.

A Union that also fights against discrimination and promotes equality and democracy. In Hungary, for example. It is a shame that we have to wait for a letter of State Secretary Hilary Clinton before the European Union acts. The Hungarian crisis is as important as the euro crisis. Both concern the credibility of our Union in the eyes of our citizens.

So I see no other option in the case of Hungary than to launch with the Parliament the procedure foreseen in article 7 paragraph 1 of the treaty.

This is the position of the liberal democrats, the vision of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.

And as we embark on this New Year, I would like to express my hope that our Union becomes again a Union of 27 instead of 26 thanks to the political games of euro-sceptic David Cameron. Yesterday in London with Nick Clegg he stated his firm commitment to bring Britain back into the Union as fast as possible. So that the new treaty applies to all 27 Member States and can easily be incorporated into the existing “acquis”.

This is absolutely crucial, as it is clear now after his speech in Toulon, that French President Sarkozy wants to abuse the euro-crisis and the new treaty to bypass the community institutions and to establish an intergovernmental “directoire” under Franco-German control.

The ALDE, together with all the other pro-European parties in the Parliament, will do everything that is necessary to avoid this.

Finally I want to thank you all, members and staff for your hard work – and most importantly  – for your commitment.

On this basis, and with your help - I am confident that 2012 is going to be a good liberal, democratic and European year.