Voice of the EU speaks at Pitt

Jose Manuel Barroso believes the European Union is one of the greatest political… Jose Manuel Barroso believes the European Union is one of the greatest political accomplishments made by man.

Barroso, president of the European Union’s European Commission, spoke to a packed Connolly Ballroom in Alumni Hall Friday afternoon.

Dubbed “the voice of the European Union” by Chancellor Mark Nordenberg, Barroso started his lecture by congratulating the world champion Steelers and the city of Pittsburgh, while the audience applauded and laughed.

He then jumped into the speech, stressing the importance of a partnership between the European Union and the United States.

“Both the E.U. and U.S. realize that the fulfillment of their ambitions cannot be carried out in a vacuum,” he said. “We need to work together to promote common values such as democracy, freedom, respect for human rights and the rule of law.”

The European Commission is the executive branch of the European Union, an economic and political coalition of 25 European countries. The Commission sets policy agenda for the E.U. and also proposes legislation.

Barroso came to visit Pitt’s European Union Center of Excellence, one of only 10 such centers in the nation. This is his first visit to an E.U. Center of Excellence outside of Washington.

The president acknowledged that companies headquartered in Pittsburgh have widespread appeal in Europe, and said, “We have much to learn from each other, and much to do together.”

However, he dedicated most of his speech to European affairs and developments within the E.U.

“We need to start showing the citizens of Europe that the E.U. is part of the solution to their concerns, not part of the problem,” Barroso said. “We have to tackle issues like growth and jobs by reforming the economy. We have to improve security against threats that know no borders, like international terrorism and global pandemics.”

Barroso pointed out that, although Europe represents 7 percent of the world population, its imports and exports constitute more than 20 percent of world trade. He also encouraged the acceptance of globalization and the danger of isolationism in the 21st century.

“As many as 14 million jobs on both sides of the Atlantic depend on trans-Atlantic commercial ties,” he said. “This means that not only Europe, but also the U.S., has much to lose if protectionism rises and globalization’s wings are clipped. We need to ensure that the trans-Atlantic economy remains competitive and a driver of global growth.”

A question-and-answer session followed Barroso’s short and direct speech. He acknowledged that the E.U. “has to engage in the real process of reform” through what he calls “Plan D: democracy, dialogue and debate.”

Chancellor Nordenberg presented Barroso with a plaque of the Cathedral of Learning at the end of the lecture. Barroso took the last remaining minutes to discuss his hope for the European Union.

“Sixty years ago we had concentration camps in Auschwitz,” he said. “When I was your age, 17 or 18, I could not read the books or newspapers I wanted to. Ten years ago we had a massacre in the Balkans. And now we have 25 members living in peace. The E.U. is one of the greatest institutional achievements made by man.

“I am confident in the future of the E.U.,” he said in closing. “Let’s work to make this E.U. a spreader of democracy and freedom. This is our goal for the future, and I believe we can reach it.”