Let’s not further weaken Europe

Let’s not deconstruct Europe! Let’s not transform the common currency in the bone of contention. Instead, let’s defend this noble expression of European solidarity with pride and determination. Let’s continue respecting the Schengen area while preserving this formidable expression of freedom in Europe. In both cases, today it’s important to abide by the law and promote dialogue. For the time being, the Treaties don’t provide for the “bailout” of a euro-area Country in financial straits. For this reason the EU Treaty should be amended so as to enable support by other Member States if the financial stability of the euro area as a whole is at stake. From the juridical angle this modification is critical to the implementation of the European stability mechanism, which, starting in 2013, will act as a European IMF. On the other hand, we must encourage the resumption of dialogue among the new Irish government, Germany and France so as to unlock European resources to the Irish Republic. More flexibility will be needed on both sides so as to restore hope in the Irish economy. Law and dialogue are crucial also to tackle the situation of incoming flows of refugees to Italy and Malta. Italy has the right to release immigrant visas and France has the right to set a specific number of conditions to grant them the right to live in France. It complies with the law, with the Schengen Border Code in particular. Indeed, the “repatriation” directive of the European Union provides for the readmission of people from non-EU countries on the basis of bilateral agreements such as binding agreements with Italy and France. Indeed, the refusal of the April 11 Council of European Ministers of Interiors of activating a solidarity clause for temporary protection in case of massive migration flows, is unquestionably founded on Community Legislation. Most of those currently arriving to Italy don’t fall within the scope of the international protection directive, therefore the Council is tasked with establishing whether Italy is experiencing a massive flow of migrants. However, law isn’t everything, and it is to be hoped that dialogue will prevail in the upcoming French-Italian summit on migration of April 26, in the new Council of Ministers of Interiors due to take place on May 12 and at the European Council held in the month of June. However, confrontations between Europeans are one thing, but the discrepancy between the Northern and Southern areas of the Mediterranean is reason for greater concern. The Archbishop of Rabat, Msgr. Vincent Landel, conveyed his preoccupation in a letter to the Bishops of France at the end of March. He wrote: “I am seriously concerned about the treatment of migrants arriving from Tunisia, Egypt and Libya… the way in which the National Front earned its votes… This will hurt us more than anything else… When will Europe truly help the Maghreb and Africa?…Otherwise we will be experiencing a migration tsunami. The distortion between what is being experienced in Europe and the situation in Africa is the cause of what is happening now… freedom, justice, dignity, you are all familiar with these terms, will we be helped to know them too?”In November 1989, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, German Chancellor Helmut Kohl presented a plan containing ten proposals for German reunification to the Bundestag. Where are the prominent personalities that could submit a concise emergency plan providing aid to Maghreb, Mashriq and the entire African continent? Such a plan containing the promise of promoting solidarity and defending freedom should be based on the principles of law and dialogue. The European Commission proposal of the beginning of March was a good step in this direction, but it wasn’t enough. And it wasn’t even sufficiently conspicuous. Despite the Arab Spring, without a proposal of this kind young Tunisians in search of a job and fleeing from misery will continue landing on the shores of Lampedusa.