No celebrations for the euro currency

What are the hot issues and the protagonists that will take centre stage at European political level in 2012? What are the names of the leaders that will coordinate community integration, repeatedly called for in words but then forced to address parochial national interests, tepid and closed ruling classes, peoples still distant from the “European citizenship” concept?The euro, a bitter birthday. Given the scarce certainties of 2012 Europe the euro currency continues being a primary issue. The single currency has been circulating for ten years. But its anniversary wasn’t marked by major celebrations, nor by official ceremonies, as is customary for the EU seats on the occasion of significant commemorations. That anniversary passed unnoticed, and in fact, neither the Commission nor the Central Bank have planned special events. The difficult phase experienced by European economy, the concerns for sovereign debt, the ongoing negotiations to safeguard the euro from the possibility of a collapse, suggested the adoption of a courteous form of caution. At present the diplomatic seats of 26 countries are at work (the entire EU except for the United Kingdom), having endorsed the new “budget deal”, which, by compelling national budgets to rigorous accounting, is expected to provide oxygen to community life and to spark off virtuous political and financial effects such as the establishment of shared governance, public accounts stability and the availability of future resources to promote growth and employment. But we’re still at the beginning of such complex procedure, which among other things entails the creation of a specific agreement.Upcoming elections. A second theme due to characterize European politics in the coming twelve months regards national elections, especially since also the citizens of Germany and France will be called to cast their vote. The two countries, for the good and for the bad, swinging between generous thrusts and incomprehensible slowdowns, unquestionably remain the major players and benchmarks of the EU. And since German and French politics don’t escape the current “polling” habit, it is very likely that the decisions taken by Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Sarkozy regarding European policies will be based on the sentiment of the public opinion in their home countries, rather than prioritizing “the European common good”. It is perfectly understandable that a national politician wishes to win national elections in the prospect of governing for his own fellow-citizens, but it’s equally certain and proven that when national demands mortify the creation of the “common home”, the latter looses force and importance and risks breaking down, as happened lately, with heavy consequences at national level. Europeanists and non-Europeanists. The euro, and, even more so, the problematic knot of sovereign debt, could thus influence the outcomes of the political vote in Berlin and in Paris, just as these same issues have brought about profound changes in recent months, leading to a turnover in national governments faced with serious budgetary unbalances: first in Ireland, then in Portugal, Greece, Spain, and finally Italy. What’s happening in other countries? The United Kingdom, notably premier David Cameron, backed off from his presence in the EU, and refused to endorse the “budgetary deal” decided in the summit of past 8-9 December. A strong sign in favour of Europe has arrived from Poland, which, in its capacities as president-in-office of the EU in the second semester of 2011, promoted a set of significant decisions aimed at the establishment of common governance. Also Denmark, which on January 1st took over the baton from Warsaw for the coming semester, appears to have recovered the European cause. What will be the attitudes of other national leaders towards the EU in the coming twelve months? For example, national democracy and Rule of the Law in Hungary led by Victor Orban is being seriously questioned. And there is the case of Nordic countries such as Finland and Sweden, that have to cope with nationalistic and xenophobic national movements, coupled by surging doubts on the euro currency, joined by Croatia, which signed the EU adhesion Treaty a few weeks ago…There is no contradiction… These are just some of the questions regarding the future of the EU over which the president of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek (PL) submitted a proposal for future action. Past December Buzek said: “There is no contradiction between being a good Polish citizen, a good Englishman, a good Spaniard and being a good European citizen”. In other words, it is necessary to engage in national recovery whilst bearing in mind the target of the European home and of global peace, development and democracy. That very “far-reaching vision”, that universal horizon highlighted on many occasions by the Catholic Church in the social and political realms, can serve as a remedy for the future of Europe.