Stronger and more effective

Everyone is satisfied. The aftermath of crucial political moments for Europe: government and State leaders made positive and conciliating declarations. As for they negotiations, however, most parties admitted they had sought the benefits for their own States, perhaps to the detriment of a broader and faster integration. The recent Lisbon summit (October 18-20) makes no exception. AN EFFECTIVE EUROPE. JOSÉ MANUEL BARROSO, president of the Commission, played a pre-eminent role in the negotiations by leading the works of the current president José Socrates who publicly assigned him this task. President Barroso affirmed that “the Treaty increases the intervention capacity of the EU”. This will lead Europe to be “more effective” in its own boundaries and stronger at International level. The German president of the European Parliament HANS-GERT POETTERING , defines the agreement reached last week as a “major success for the Parliament, a victory for the EU and for all citizens.” The new Treaty grants the “Assembly co-decisional authority on a large part of Community legislation at the same time increasing its political bearing”. FOCUSING ON CONCRETE PROBLEMS. Having reached an agreement on the reform Treaty, “Europe can focus on other issues”. GORDON BROWN the British premier, has already turned Lisbon’s page. Moreover, the first outcome of the summit has national implications : “Great Britain’s interests were safeguarded”. The United Kingdom had asked for a derogation from the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and of the Community’s policies in the area of Justice and Security. “It’s time to focus on other matters closer to citizens’ needs: economic development, employment, climate changes and security”, the British Prime Minister said. German Chancellor ANGELA MERKEL , who paved the way to the agreement during the period of her presidency in this year’s first semester, shares the same views. THE COMMITMENT OF FRANCE. French President NICOLAS SARKOZY promised that his Country “will be among the first to ratify the Treaty” (in the 2005 referendum France rejected the Constitution) and the same could happen in December. Also Polish President LECH KACZYNSKI appeared satisfied for having been granted derogations for a series of ordinary matters and the introduction of the “leonine clause”, which may be applied to postpone the implementation of majority decisions. The International visibility of the summit however, did not lead to a positive outcome in the October 21st political elections… CHARTER OF RIGHTS: SHARED VALUES. Also Italian premier ROMANO PRODI was satisfied with the Lisbon results: “Europe can finally return to other major issues such as energy, climate changes, globalization and infrastructures.” Mr. Prodi explained that as relates to the problem of seat distribution in the Euro-parliament “Italy started uphill”, as it had asked for the citizenship – and not residence – criteria to be adopted in establishing the number of MEPs per State. During the Lisbon summit it was decided to grant Italy one more seat in the forthcoming EU Assembly than envisaged in a Euro-Chamber resolution -73- just like Great Britain. “The number of citizens in Great Britain and Italy is the same while France” – which will have 74 MEPs – “has over 2 million more”, Mr. Prodi explained. The Premier remarked that the Charter of Rights “will not give immediate results. However, it is crucial to establish shared ethical values” which are “the pillars of co-existence in Europe”. “THE EU NEEDS THE CONSTITUTION”. “A complex agreement, with major implications for the EU”. ANDREW DUFF , British Liberal-democrat MEP, along with Elmar Brok from Germany’s Popular Party and French Socialist MEP Enrique Baron Crespo, represented the Assembly at the intergovernmental Conference to draw up the Reform Treaty. Mr. Duff told Sir that “the EU will increase its tools and skills in order to address global challenges”. Will the new Treaty replace the Constitution? “No, it’s just a temporary problem. In due time, in a few years perhaps, the EU’s need for a real and true Constitution will be more evident”. Andrew Duff also voiced his concern for the derogations granted to a number of States which are due to “a self-service” kind of Europe. He told Sir that after signing the document there will be a period devoted to the 27 ratifications”. Are risks to be expected along this path? “I don’t think so”, Mr. Duff replied, and added: “I hope not”.