“New forms of international governance for tackling globalization”: that’s the hope of EU Commissioner Mario Monti “The European Union is acquiring an ever greater prestige at the international level, because it represents a valid example of ‘governed’ globalization at the continental level: the most advanced experiment of ‘regulated’ integration of the markets accompanied by a political coordination on a strong democratic basis, in accordance with the project of the European Fathers, which led to the establishment of the EEC (European Economic Community) in 1957, the first step towards the unification of Europe”. The comment is made by the European Commissioner for Competition Mario Monti, who paid his first visit to the new government in Rome in recent days. In the course of a press conference following his meetings with the main Italian authorities, Monti said that “globalization presents undeniable advantages for everyone, but it needs to be guided by new forms of international governance and close vigilance over the markets, in particular with regard to the delicate sector of competition”. In this regard an urgent need is felt for “coordination of the antitrust policies that extends beyond the frontiers of Europe, a kind of bilateral cooperation between Washington and Brussels”. From the presence of a supranational authority – Monti pointed out Italy too could derive considerable advantages in the event of disputes and violations of norms, since Italy is weaker than France or Germany from an administrative viewpoint”. Among the more significant measures for the future of Europe, the Commissioner expressed the hope that the Convention “for a better participation of citizens” in the reform of the foundation treaties of the EU would be promulgated in the near future. He recalled, in particular, the Brussels-Laeken summit to be held in December this year and the intergovernmental Conference for institutional reforms planned for 2003/2004. Commenting on the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, Monti pointed out that “often in the history of man even dramatic events have had positive effects: the growth of European cohesion registered over these last two weeks is evident to everyone and there is a greater ‘political’ rapprochement with our continent and a desire for cooperation on the part of the United States”. As regards the main forms of lliberalization “that the Italian government has posed as one of the cornerstones of its own economic policy”, Monti expressed appreciation for the steps taken by Italy and expressed the hope that Italy “might become a decisive factor generating the processes of liberalization at the European level”. Laeken Declaration The debate on the “Future of Europe” was launched in December last year, when the summit of the heads of state and of government of the EU (European Council) ratified the Treaty of Nice and concluded the third Intergovernmental Conference on institutional reforms – CIG III. The Belgian EU Presidency (July December 2001) was given the mandate to draft the “Laeken Declaration” (from the name of the locality near Brussels which will host the European Council in December) whose main scope is to “ draw the contours of the European Union after its enlargement“. The Laeken Declaration will have to tackle a series of “crucial questions”, including the definition of the EU’s competences (who does what, how and at what level) and the method to be followed for the formulation of institutional reforms in preparation for the next and probably the last Intergovernmental Conference currently scheduled for 2004 ( CIG IV). As regards the method, the most probable solution is that of setting up a “ Convention” (or “ Forum“, taking as its example the Convention which drew up the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union) which will permit the European Parliament, the Commission, the member States and the national Parliaments to be involved in the debate. Belgian Prime Minister Verhofstadt has set up a team of experts on Community affairs (the “ Laeken Group“, the members of which include former Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato) with a view to providing consultancy in the framework of the drafting of the Laeken Declaration, the text of which will represent the basis for discussion and negotiation for CIG IV. The European Council in December will establish the preparatory agenda for CIG IV.
