23 juillet 2007
Europe, anything but simple !
Il s'agit d'une traduction du post :Une Europe tout sauf simple
It is translation of the post :Une Europe tout sauf simple
Thank you to Félicia for its assistance
There it is: the simplified treaty is underway. Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy and more widely the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso supported by the "wise ones" of the Amato group, have, by their activism, saved the essential, which means, the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the vote according to the principle: 55% of the States representing 65% of the population. Well except for two nuances. First this new way of voting, if it is ratified by all the States, will not come into force until 2014 and could temporarily be even pushed back by one State until 2017. Second nuance, if the charter is applied well, the United Kingdom of the Socialist new Labour Tony Blair could refuse it, even though it is one of the countries where it would be the most capable to be put forth before of the courts. Moreover on this subject, where are we in plan B? Where is the social sector aspect? How can we still impose one? I am convinced that no compromise will ever be found on this subject. That only a Parliament having varied competences and dominated by the European left can impose a minimum of social harmonization (or harmony). At last let’s get to the real subject.
That being said, it is true that this summit saved something from the wreckage. But at what price? First of all the new institutional job is far from simple. It amends in fact, at the same time the treaty on the European Community (the Treaty of Rome already modified several times: in 1986 by the Single European Act, in 1992 in Maastricht, in 1997 in Amsterdam and in 2000 in Nice) and the Treaty on European Union (Maastricht Treaty). I do not want to go into the technical details here, as I am not an expert. On the other hand, I note that if the first version of the constitution had been elaborated within a very technocratic framework, it had at least the interest to be transparent and to have a vague democratic base since it came from both the states and the Parliaments. Though there, we witnessed the return of bargaining, of psychodramas, of exceptions and of opacity. For me, the only democratic way to work out a constitution, even when it is disguised as a simplified treaty, is to elect as a preliminary a constituent assembly (as it happens a special session of the European Parliament) then to get the text ratified by referendum, by obtaining a double majority, that of the European people as a whole and in each State. Another thing, the Europe which one is supposed to build, is one of values. It is in any case, I believe, what one said to Turkey and it is at any rate how I see things. If one has made Europe for a large common market, as much as it is clearly said, that does not interest me.
Then political Europe, which is based on common values, where is it at? It is the big loser in this bargaining between States. Not only the Community symbols (flag, Ode to Joy) have fallen by the trapdoor, but moreover the optional dimensions of the Charter of Fundamental Rights dangerously dilutes the principle of common values.
To conclude, this simplified treaty, I don't like it very much, but I accept it as a lesser evil. Europe has left its crisis. But where do we go now? Towards a large common market ? Towards a political Europe ? Towards a Europe in circles? To choose, since political Europe seems impossible, I am ready to accept the risk of a union at several speeds and to preach federalism for the countries that really want it. It is the only way, I fear, to go towards a diplomacy, a common defence and above all towards a less liberal and more social Europe.
Chart of the European Union with Outermost regions
In blue the Member State, pink the applicant countries.
(**)= Old Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Official designation of the EU: Republic of Macedonia
Outermost regions:
French overseas departments: French Guiana (GF) - Guadeloupe (GP) - Martinique (MQ) - Réunion (RE)
Portugal : Azores (Azo) - Madeira (Mad)
Spain : Canary Islands (Can)
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