Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The European Union is much more than a Single Market and an economic opportunity for its member states. It is a political union, where there is agreed pooled sovereignty in certain areas, a value system and a vein running through all member states ensuring certain standards are maintained and protected that are core to democracy. It is a value system which allows the European Union to be a credible example of a multilateral system and project that secures peace and protection of its own citizens, but also to be an example internationally for how democracy, the rule of law, a legal system and an acceptable social safety net for people should actually function. While countries will have different policies in different areas, the value system across the European Union must be consistent. It is the job of the European Commission to be the guardian of the treaties and the value system linked to those treaties. That is what is at stake here.

This is not just a difference in policy approach on a certain issue. That is why I believe that the German Presidency is taking this as seriously as they are, and why they have such strong support. That being said, we have to find a way forward because many countries need the application of the budgetary decisions that have been made in recent months, especially in the context of a post-Covid environment.

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