Europe can no longer depend on other major powers. That was the message conveyed by MR President Georges-Louis Bouchez during his conference at Voka in Brussels, where he spoke with representatives from more than fifty large companies.
“European sovereignty will be the major political challenge of the coming years,” Mr Bouchez began. “We must take our destiny back into our own hands in four strategic sectors: food, defence, energy and industry. We must save our industry by cutting taxes and scrapping pointless rules and procedures. For agriculture and the food industry, we need to conclude free trade agreements so our companies can export to more countries. Europe must open up to new markets. But at the same time, our farmers must face fewer rules, obligations and red tape.”
Security has become a central theme due to the geopolitical tensions of recent years. “To be less dependent on the United States, Europe must develop its own defence industry. Politicians, military leaders and industry must join forces to achieve this. Defence investments and contracts must benefit our companies, as is the case in the United States with their own military industry.”
Nuclear power plants
“Energy is the foundation of our prosperity,” Mr Bouchez continued. “Last century, the abundance of cheap oil brought us wealth and comfort. Since Europe has neither gas nor oil, it now even imports shale gas from the United States. The MR fought successfully in the previous coalition to keep our nuclear power plants open, against all other political parties. That was vital. Combined with offshore wind turbines and solar panels in industrial zones, they guarantee our autonomy and energy supply security.”
The MR President defended the work of the Arizona government before Voka and listed a series of major decisions: “The abolition of unemployment benefits after two years, tax-exempt overtime, the extension of flexi-jobs to all sectors and increased hours for student jobs, a maximum notice period of twelve months, and the calculation of working time over the whole year. These are all achievements of the Minister of Employment and Economy, David Clarinval (MR). Thanks to the tax reform, workers will keep at least €200 net more per month. For some households, this could even reach €600 net.” Mr Bouchez reiterated that public spending must be reduced in order to lower taxes further. He also wants to scrap various pointless or marginal subsidies.