The economic crisis, energy and relations with Russia were just three themes the new President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek raised during his speech to MEPs in Strasbourg, France. Buzek, the first President of the European Parliament to come from behind the Iron curtain used his inaugural speech to warn that the financial crisis was the most serious challenge Europe currently faced. He also spoke of the need for Europe to develop a coordinated energy policy and the need for the Parliament to be more open and dynamic and for citizens “to know who they voted for”.
He said that his election was a “symbol” of the dreams of people who had come from behind the Iron curtain for a united and “common” Europe. He then turned to the challenges he believed the EU faces, namely the economic crisis, the need for  European solidarity, energy and the environment, foreign policy and human rights and its system of values.
On the state of the economy he called for the European Union to stand together in the face of globalization and resist protectionism. He emphasized the social cost of the recession: “There is no real community of solidarity when the most vulnerable are left on the sidelines.” In his speech, delivered in his native Polish, Buzek also touched on the need for a balanced approach to immigration: saying it had “always brought benefits to Europe” although he stressed the need for integration into societies by those who arrive.  Buzek also stressed the need for women to be more integrated into the workplace: “We cannot overcome the crisis without the huge potential, economic, intellectual and creative contribution of women.  Turning to energy, he said “Europeans may not understand geopolitics; they do understand that the heating is turned off.” He called for a common energy policy and more investment in renewable and fossil fuels. He also called for “a green revolution, to curb our extravagant lifestyles.”
On Parliament itself, Buzek talked about the importance of harnessing new communications technologies, both in future European elections and to ensure more of the Parliament’s activities should be seen online. “Citizens must know to whom they give their votes” he told MEPs. The leader of the European People’s Party Joseph Daul of France reiterated this, speaking in the debate later he said “we have to explain better what is at stake to all those who are Europeans and European citizens.”
For the Socialists and Democrats, its leader, Martin Schulz of Germany said that “you are taking up this job at a difficult time for everyone, particularly for the EP. For the first time we see the pro-European consensus is at risk in this house.” The Leader of the Liberals Guy Verhofstadt of Belgium told him “From your speech: it is quite clear that you have perfect experience here in order to bring about three objectives in coming years. First of all; to give the European citizens more voice, so they can be heard more, to make sure there is more democracy and also more European integration.” Green MEP Rebecca Harms said the financial crisis will make it even more difficult to achieve a bridge between East and West “because inequalities are weighing heavily on everybody’s shoulders.” Fellow Pole Michal Kaminski, for the European Conservatives and Reformists Group told Buzek: “President, your election was a historical moment...even if our opinions differ we can achieve a compromise...”
Eva Britt Svensson, for the leftist GUE/NGL said that the Parliament should “open itself up and make sure that decisions are openly arrived at. If members of this house don’t feel involved in the work of the parliament how can we expect our citizens to feel involved? “
Francesco Enrico Speroni of the Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group (EFD) said “one of the problems...is we don’t have a power of initiative. We are constantly writing resolutions, signing written statements which are not followed up...”