Spanish 2010 EU Presidency : DIGITAL ZAP(atero) + new Energy links ?

Digital and Energy Networks, together with Universities and E-cars, figured high at Spanish Prime Minister, and incoming EU Chairman in office (Jan.-June 2010), Jose Luis Zapatero's statements at EU Parliament in Strasbourg, which surprised by going well beyond the usual prepared texts , introducing some interesting Novelties in the Horizon of the EU Presidency during which EU will shape its Economic Strategy for the next Decade :

   - "Information Society" technologies are a key driver of "Growth" for EU's Economy's which should be used now that Europe searches to find its ways out of the Global Crisis, Zapatero stressed from the outset, during a debate in EU Parliament on the Spanish 2010 EU Presidency's Programme :

    - "40% of Productivity increases are due to Information Technologies and Telecommunications", he observed. "A sector in which we (EU) have (industrial) leaders, but not yet an internal Digital Market", he criticized.

    Therefore, EU should "invest in new Communication Networks", but also "make it easier  to create (digital) Content",  and "allow Creativity" to flourish in Europe, "thanks to Innovation" : "This sector has", indeed, "the biggest Innovation Capacity" from all, underlined the incoming 2010 EU Chairman in office.

    - "Digital Networks", together with "Energy" issues, "Universities" and "Electric Vehicle", etc., are "crucial issues" which need to be tackled by EU policies", he concluded.

    It is surprising to note that this point on Digital High-Tech, made by Zapatero from the start of his address to MEPs, does not exist at all in the initial version of the Spanish EU Presidency, neither in the written version distributed this week to Journalists present on the spot. Apparently, it was added only at the last moment in Zapatero's speech, who exceptionally was purely oral and largely spontaneous, abandoning any previously prepared written version...

    Significantly, the Spanish Prime Minister added  that point in EU Parliament in Strasbourg,, only a Month after French President Sarkozy anounced here the inclusion of "Digital Networks" among  big projects due to be funded by a "Great Loan" of many Billions €, (the same Day that German Chancellor Merkel was speaking at an "Information Technology Summit" at nearby Stuttgart),  stressing that this was needed in order to defend "Europe's Identity" : Focus of a Report currently prepared by a group of EU wisemen, including nearby Stuttgart's Mayor Schussel, which is due to be published on June 2010 in Spain.. (See relevant "EuroFora"'s newsreport :    ).

    Sources from the Spanish 2010 EU Presidency told "EuroFora" that Zapatero hadn't yet any other occasion to stress so loudly this point, which had been simply cited, among others, only at a meeting with a group of journalists from Brussels, where it went almost unnoticed..

    Another interesting point of Strategic importance on Economy, added later by Zapatero when he met with Strasbourg's Journalists, including "EuroFora", in EU Parliament after his speech to MEPs, was about the big potential of Energy links :

    - "New InterConnections" can help Europe overcome its 1st Economic Weakness which is due to the lack of natural Resources, obliging often to pay a lot of money to "3rd Countries", he noted :

    - "A key part are new InterConnections, Energy grids, etc. Fex. between Spain and France, etc, for supplies to Europe comming f.ex. from Algeria, etc., which can boost EU's Competitiviy, since it can bring Energy from various GeoPolitical areas, he explained.

    There has to be change in EU's Energy policy, for Digital Networks, etc., where EU needs more leadership. Lisbon strategy didn't work, because there were no EU means to deliver.     

    Zapatero's observations on diversifying EU's Energy routes, significnatly  came shortly after new EU EnergyCommissioner-designate, Gunter Oettering, alredy made similar remarks at his EU Parliament Hearing, a few days ago :

    - In addition to "North Stream" Gas pipeline project, EU should examine also "South Stream" project, as well as how to bring in "North African" resources, Oettering said, stressing also the potential "importance" of "Desertec", the huge "Solar energy project due to be built "in Partnership with Africa", and helping also the "Development of Mediterranean and Southern EU Countries", where EU must find a way to develop new Transmission Lines", as he said. Obviously, such a project as "Desertec", due to bring in Europe Solar Energy from the Sahara, would augment the importance of Spain, as obvious Strategic link.

    Replying also to a MEP's question on the controversial "Nabbuco" gas pipeline idea, Oettering observed that there are also many other ways to reduce dependency from Russia : EU can also use the larger "Mediterranean area", as well as to organize the transport of "Liquefied Gas" by "all means", f.ex. also "by Ship", (while sharing the cost of Storage), in order to "reduce Dependency on Pipelines", as he said.

    On the contrary, Nabbuco has to pass through some "3rd Countries which don't share our (EU's) Values" on Human Rights, etc; and EU must also examine its "problems of Cost", and find out before deciding whether it will have, or not, enough Gas to tranhsport, while also considering that, in fact, it's a project for the "next Decade", as Oettering said.

    "EuroFora" remembers that, at least in recent years, often Spain was present when France and Germany were preparing exceptionally important Summits of the EU and/or with big strategic partners, as fex. neighbouring Russia, etc.

    - "Spain is a committed European country", stressed also EU Commission's President, Jose Luis Barroso,  EPP politician from Portugal.

    Barroso explained that it's during the Spanish EU Chairmanship that EU is due to "discuss", on the February 11 exceptional Summit, "decide" at the Spring 2010 informal Summit, and officially adopt on the June regular Summit the new European Economic Strategy "2020" for the entire Decade.

    Spanish 2010 EU Chairmanship's "initiative to open a debate on Economic Governance" was welcomed even by the President of the largest Group of MEPs : Christian Democrats/EPP, Joseph Daul from Strasbourg, despite some disagreements with Zapatero's "Socialist" policies from other points of view.    

    Speaking in Strasbourg the year Spain completes "25 Years in Europe"', Zapatero reminded the times when Europe  "was a Dream" for Spain and other countries, and promissed a "committed", "fair and faithful" role also as 2010 EU Chairman, keeping  the "feeling" that Europe today can represent Democracy and Human Rights, Equality and Peace, the feeling that we can bring People's aspirations together, to be in this great region of prosperity and ideals", as he said.

And that's perhaps the most important...