Alex Taylor hosts I talk, the new programme on Euronews where the public question Europe’s decisions makers. This week’s guest is Kristalina Georgieva, the European Commissioner for International Cooperation, humanitarian and crisis response.

Alex Taylor: “Right, let’s go for the first question which comes from Lyon in France:”

Camila: “Yes, I have a question: I’d like to know how the European Union intends to respond to what has happened to the nuclear reactors in Japan?”

Alex Taylor: “Now, commissioner, I know you’ve been to Japan recently. First of all, what can we do to help and what are the lessons we can learn from what you’ve seen?”

Kristalina Georgieva: “The damage to Japan from the earthquake, tsunami and the nuclear accident is very dramatic and especially for a country where there are very sad memories of nuclear accidents. It is the nuclear accident that is creating most anxiety among the Japanese people. They are incredibly resilient, incredibly mobilised, and yet they fear for their livelihoods, they fear for the health of their kids. So, what we can do is provide monitoring equipment etc.”

Alex Taylor: “How much money do we have available? Who decides on the budget? Is it you directly?”

Kristalina Georgieva: “Japan is a very wealthy country, so for Japan it is not so much a matter of money, it is a matter of getting solidarity from the rest of the world. What we are providing to Japan are two things: any kind assistance and we also contributed to the Japanese Red Cross 15 million euros, 10 million from the Commission. What I heard from the Japanese is that they say we need to re-think how we prepare for disasters, we need to re-think our energy strategy for the future. And I think that applies to all of us.”

Alex Taylor: “Well, of course. Look at this picture, I’m sure you’ll recognize it: this is Kozloduy, which the United States said was one of the 10 most dangerous nuclear plants in the world. And it is in Bulgaria, your country, which had to close it down before Bulgaria joined the EU. What lessons can we learn from what happened in Japan for our own nuclear situation in Europe?”

Kristalina Georgieva: “Three lessons: First, that we have to invest in stress tests and be sure that we understand the risks. Second, we need to prepare our populations. And three, we have to look at how we can structure our energy supply to reduce our dependence on an erergy source which our populations see as a risky. We have to work on being energy efficient – and we have a long way to go on that. The Japanese are saying that even they have a long way to go and they are the most energy efficient nation in the world. But we also need to look at other alternatives that are safer for our people.”

Alex Taylor: “Ok, let’s go for a second question now, from an Italian in Brussels:”

Mirko Mosca: “Madame Georgieva, I’d like to ask: shouldn’t we have had a European grant before this, to stop all these imigrants landing on the Italian coast?”

Alex Taylor: “Commissioner, we get involved in conflicts outside Europe and then we have to deal with the consequences, but we don’t seem to be doing very well.”

Kristalina Georgieva: “In the case of Libya, the European Union actually took the lead on providing financial assistance and helping take migrants home on planes and boats in order to de-congest Tunisia and Egypt.”

Alex Taylor: “Are there still a lot of people coming?”

Kristalina Georgieva: “If you look at the neighbouring countries, far more of those people crossing the borders from Libya go home to Egypt, Bangladesh, Ghana, and Sudan than go to Lampedusa. It is a small island, so 4,500 new arrivals easily overrun it and that creates a question for Europe: how can we show solidarity and help Lampedusa, help Italy, with the flow of migrants.”

Alex Taylor: “And how can we help Italy?”

Kristalina Georgieva: “A ticket home is the way we help stop the flow of people to Lampedusa.”

Alex Taylor: “What kind of a budget do you have and who decides directly how to help in situations like this?”

Kristalina Georgieva: “This year, the humanitarian budget I’m responsible for starts at 850 million euros. But if needs increase, we can use the Commission’s emergency reserve fund. Last year, for example, our total spending was 1.1 billion euros, because it was a very tough year.”

Alex Taylor: “Let’s go to our third question, which comes from a French student:”

Jean-Antoine: “Why does Europe have such trouble speaking with one voice on foreign affairs when the situation right now gives Europe an opportunity to position itself at the centre of the international stage?”

Alex Taylor: “It’s a frequently asked question. Obviously it is very difficult to get so many different countries with different points of views to come to one common viewpoint. And also we don’t always know whether it’s you for example, or Catherine Ashton, who represents Europe?”

Kristalina Georgieva: “When it comes down to responding for the most dire needs of people around the world, whether hit by a disaster or by a conflict, it is me. And on humanitarian matters, Europe actually does speak with one voice. We are seen, respected, as a force for good. Europe is 20% of the world economy, but 45% to 50% of humanitarian assistance.”

Alex Taylor: “OK, Mrs Georgieva, here is a final question for you:”

David: “My name is David and I’m French. I’d like to stress that I’m not against further enlargement of the EU but I want to ask about new countries joining the EU. Doesn’t that go against the original idea of the European Union? Because at the beginning some people thought it would be a “mega-country”, a federation of European states with a certain number of members. So doesn’t letting new countries join go against that?”

Alex Taylor: “Mrs Georgieva, you are from Bulgaria, that recently joined the European Union. We’ve lost ideals that we had 50-60 years ago when the EU set up. Does the European Union stand for anything these days?”

Kristalina Georgieva: “I certainly hope the European Union will continue to uphold that value of solidarity. Look, I spent two thirds of my life dreaming of being part of a united Europe, and now here I am. And I think that is the best thing that has happened to me. But I also think this is the best thing that has happened to all of us in Europe. We live in a world where size matters. When you look at China and India with 500 million people in their economy, it is much better than being small places scattered here and there. But I also see the world as being much more fragile than during my childhood. Disasters are more frequent, they are more intense, like in Japan. Crises are more difficult. And in this world of today and tomorrow, building not only solidarity, but a group solidarity is paramount for us and especially for young people that have been asking me questions today.”

Copyright © 2012 euronews

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