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There is the Parliament,
there is the European Council with the Council of Ministers,
there is the European Commission.
All the institutions have to cooperate and collaborate.
My name is Martin Schulz. I am the President of the European Parliament.
My name is José Manuel Durao Barroso.
I'm President of the European Commission.
I am Eleni Mavrou. I chair the Justice and Home Affairs Council.
I chaired the Economic Council. It is called ECOFIN.
I'm Herman Van Rompuy,
the President of the European Council of the Heads of State or Government.
The European Council is a European institution
comprising the Heads of State or Government of the 27 Member States,
soon to be 28 Member States.
We meet four times a year.
More often during a crisis period, six or seven times a year.
Together we must bring Europe back on the path to structural growth and jobs.
In fact, we give the overall directions
of economic policy and foreign policy.
We are the ultimate political institution.
The European Commission represents the general European interest.
That is the way we see ourselves.
It is a unique institution with its supranational nature.
We come from all our member states
but we are not representing our governments or countries.
We are here to try to interpret,
to represent the general common European interest.
It is the European Commission that has the right,
and I could say also the duty, to present proposals for legislation.
Afterwards the Council, where the governments are represented,
and the Parliament, approve them. They are the co–legislators.
But the right of initiative is the Commission's.
The Council of Ministers meets in various formations.
It is the house of the 27 Member States.
It is where ministers from each country meet.
In each case, the ministers responsible for specific fields take part.
And when a compromise is made,
on the basis of a proposal from the Commission,
we will negotiate with the European Parliament.
The Parliament represents the citizens of the EU.
Here the people need to be in constant dialogue with each other.
We are, above all, the only legislative chamber in the world
that makes binding laws for 27 countries and nations.
Who is in favour?
Who is against?
Who abstains? It is approved.
We are a parliament with more than 700 members in 7 political groups,
which, I think, represent a total of 300 parties
and accommodating them all is a huge challenge,
but it's also a symbol of what is fascinating about Europe,
namely being different and, at the same time, being united.
I would say my role is that of President
but also that of a facilitator.
Someone who has to act in such a way that agreement is ultimately reached,
because each European Council has to reach an agreement, reach a compromise.
You have to be well prepared
so that each European Council is a productive Council.
There is a political will to break some taboos and to find an agreement finally.
If only one person doesn't agree, there is no agreement.
And so, at lots of meetings we've had,
I've had to find a very special solution for just one country.
The President of the European Parliament coordinates all the Parliament's tasks.
When I chair the plenary I oversee everything.
It is not easy to keep eye contact with so many members.
Colleagues, please listen a moment.
I think we need to be clear on one thing regarding this house.
This house is a democratic institution!
Myself I have to confess, it is sometimes hard to hold back.
I would like to take part in the discussions because I am a politician,
but the President must remain neutral.
The role of the President is, of course,
to give the overall political direction and afterwards to work for consensus.
In terms of my daily work
I spend a lot of time working with the other Commissioners.
I also need time to represent the European Union,
at summits, with the President of the European Council,
from the United States, to China, to Russia, to India,
to Japan and the other summits.
Which is a real structural solution to this crisis
while we receive nothing at all.
This can't go on. Montesquieu is turning in his grave.
Parliament should reflect the reality of society
and in society it is also noisy. People are noisy too.
Go to a pub, go to a bistro
and listen to a political discussion.
That is also noisy, there are also conflicts.
The European Council operates behind closed doors, that's a huge difference,
because we can talk to each other face–to–face and openly.
But I was surprised the first time I took part as Belgian Prime Minister
that everyone was on first name terms.
I suddenly had to say Nicolas, Angela, they called me Herman.
It's quite a strange experience.
But I saw there really is a team spirit.
You have personal contact with each member of the Council.
Knowing the background of each one's position is important.
I think it is very important that you hear what other people say.
That you really listen.
Not just give them the floor and say thank you,
but you really listen.
Understanding the other's position
is a key element in reaching decisions on a European level.
What I see here is great independence and dedication to the European cause.
My experience is, and I think this is interesting,
that ideological differences don't count in the European Commission.
I can say they are almost irrelevant.
Myself, I say that as President of the Commission my party is Europe.
And I really mean it. That is my party.
In the 21st century identity and security
cannot be defended only via national structures.
You need a power that goes further than the national level.
And this power must be Europe.
The European Union is not just about the market,
it is a project of peace and also a project of freedom and democracy.
I think, more than ever in the 21st century with a globalised world,
it is important that we stand together.
We are the first generation that has not experienced war.
And this is a legacy we should pass on to our children and grandchildren
that is why we fight hard for Europe.
Not just for economic and monetary reasons, as important as they are.
We fight also to keep this European idea intact.