Not a one-way street

On October 2, ensuing the unquestionable outcome of the popular referendum, Ireland opted in favor of the Lisbon Treaty. One of the major obstacles on the long and tortuous road leading to the fundamental reform of the European Union was finally removed. After Ireland’s ‘yes-vote’ even Poland’s President, hesitant for a long time, finally affixed his signature on October 10 (the Polish parliament ratified the Treaty long before). It’s very unlikely that the Czech head of State, the only one yet to ratify the Treaty, will deny his consensus for long, since the Czech parliament has endorsed the Reform Treaty, while no obstacle is expected from the Constitutional Court, which pronounced on its validity twice (the second ruling is due to be issued soon). However, it is not to be excluded that the Czech Republic’s Eurosceptic President, Vaclav Klaus, will seek to overturn the Lisbon Treaty. Indeed, last year a remarkable majority of Irish citizens had voted against the Lisbon Treaty, and with low turnouts at the polls. An alarmist campaign presaging that a ‘yes-vote’ would destroy Ireland’s identity and force Irish citizens to relinquish all those things they viewed as their very own values influenced the outcome of the referendum. But this time the Irish people said ‘yes’ to the reforms envisaged by the European Union with high turnouts and a full two-third majority-vote. The dire experience of the financial and economic crisis that hit Ireland was determining. Significantly, the Irish’ decision was not affected by the reassuring promises of the European Council. While the acknowledgement that Ireland wouldn’t have had a chance to sustain the crises with her own forces was crucial.This was the motivating principle of the founding fathers of the European Community that set Europe’s unification process in motion. Namely, that no European State, whether large or small, could ever overcome national problems on its own. Since then, another principle started to take shape, which continues to develop still today. Accordingly, the solidarity received by the Community ought to correspond to the solidarity that is being conveyed. Solidarity is not a one-way street. New reasons to question solidarity as a truly decisive element of EU life keep on coming up. The outcome of the first Irish referendum is an example, considering that in the past decades Ireland profited from the Community’s contribution. Czech President Klaus’ refusal could be viewed as going against the principle of solidarity. However, neither the individual behavior of a responsible politician, nor the collective attitude of population majority, assures the inscription of solidarity among European Treaties’ founding principles or within the political systems developed during 60 years of European unification. This is also true for other values and fundamental principles, such as reconciliation, peace, freedom, justice, subsidiarity, etc., that inspired the unification process and that continue exerting their own influence. Indeed, they have been institutionalized with the Treaties and owing to the engagement of committed politicians. The Treaty of Lisbon definitively confirms the European Union as an ethical project. Its content complies with the idea of a “Constitution for Europe”, whose failure was due to the negative outcome of the referendum in France and in The Netherlands (2006). In the Preamble and in the introductory articles, devoted to EU principles and objectives, the ethics of unification policy is clearly conveyed. Through the Charter of Fundamental Rights, enforced with the Lisbon Treaty, EU citizens are granted the protection that complies with these very values. Stepping up democratic structures and rules is an assurance that EU performance abides with this spirit.