Deputy Speaker, in the past 100 years Europe has had two major events that reshaped the continent, namely the First World and the Second World Wars. During that time they almost fell off the cliff.
What has happened since then is that in 1989 the world was turned upside down when the Iron Curtain came down in Europe; then we had 9/11, and, in 2008, the global financial crisis. Four years later this crisis is steaming forward and deepening by the day.
Europe stands before a vital moment, hovering over another cliff. The unity they were striving for is about to be tested in the interests of various nations' self-existence. Voters across Europe do not understand why it is necessary to cut down on state expenses. In Greece, 50% of the population under the age of 26 is unemployed; in Italy it is 32%; in Portugal it is 35%; in Spain it is 50%; and in France it is 22%; but in Germany it is only 8%. The relationship between Berlin and Paris is important for Europe to be successful, but the economic dominance of Germany irritates some nations.
Europe is our major trading partner, so South Africa must take serious cognisance of what is happening there and must use all its energy and efforts to vigorously explore new markets, especially in Africa.