EU warned against protectionist 'boomerang’[fr][de] 

"We must clearly fight protectionism, which can be a real boomerang," Diamantopoulou said in the margins of a debate organised by Friends of Europe, a Brussels think-tank. "When you throw it, it comes back at you." 

Taking note of the social unrest that has hit Greece, Diamantopoulou's home country, the former commissioner stressed that the Union should strive even harder to support the weakest members of society. 

Now a socialist member of the Greek Parliament, Diamantopoulou pleaded for measures to support consumer demand, either in the form of welfare benefits or projects such as training and education. "It will be a disaster if the weakest part of society is left without support," she said, warning of further social unrest if this were to happen. 

Referring to controversies surrounding job nationalism in the UK and allegations of protectionism regarding the French car industry bail-out plan, Diamantopoulou said EU governments are taking advantage of loopholes in European competition and state aid legislation. "If we don't have common rules, we cannot accept a common feeling of respect," she said, calling on the European Commission to come up with a list of common rules, covering economic, competition and social issues, to tackle the recession. 

"Otherwise, everyone will work on his own yard in the short term," she warned. 

Diamantopoulou echoed comments by Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes last week about the lack of European leadership in those troubled times. 

"We have interesting, brave and capable leaders at national level. We do not have European leaders as we had fifteen years ago. But the leader who takes a European initiative at this critical time will write history," she said. 

Diamantopoulou was pessimistic about the upcoming EU election campaign, as she sees a negative climate emerging for European affairs due to the recession. She suggested focusing on concrete proposals to show the added-value of "more Europe" in solving the crisis. But "we also need to give Europe a face," she stressed, noting the importance of parties putting forward candidates for the new president of the European Commission. 

"We need to give political substance to Europe. We must be clear with persons and ideas," Diamantopolou further argued. "[Current Commission President José Manuel] Barroso is a very conservative politician and I do not believe he could be supported by Social Democrats."

"It would be a good idea for Social Democrats to propose a woman, and I think there are very competent women at European level," she said. 

Elsewhere in the interview, Diamantopoulou also offers her opinions on the Lisbon Strategy and corporate social responsibility, two of the dossiers she led during her time as a commissioner from 1999 to 2004. 

To read the interview in full, please click here.