European Commission
MEMO
Brussels, 22 February 2013
"A great and honest speech– need for a broad debate" - President Barroso's reaction to the Europe speech of German Federal President Joachim Gauck
"This was a great and honest speech about Europe for which I congratulate Federal President Gauck wholeheartedly.
I fully share his appeal to citizens to develop an interest, to get involved, to make use of Europe's opportunities and discuss its perspectives.
This is precisely what I wish to see ahead of the European elections 2014: a genuine and broad debate on our common future. My vision of a democratic federation of nation states, which promotes its interests in a globalised world effectively and which guarantees freedom, democracy, security and prosperity for its citizens, can only be legitimised with such a debate."
