A new idea of power

"If it is united and determined" Europe "will count, even just for its demographic importance", if instead, it is "divided and indecisive, the only thing left do to will be burying its head in the sand", said Jesuit Fr Henri Madelin (Ocipe – Centre Sèvres). In his address delivered at the Colloque annuel "Une crise chrétienne de l’Europe? L’urgence européenne", held at the Académie Catholique de France in Paris, November 16-17, Fr Madelin described a continent with an "atypical profile, hard to interpret", which, "despite its ongoing difficulties, remains attractive for populations in its Eastern borders as well as for those on the shores of the Mediterranean". A sound thrust. "We can’t be sure that the peoples of the EU founding countries nourish great ambitions to its regard". Perhaps, "driven by need, by the defense of feasible lifestyles and by the growing pressure of economic and political giants that appear on the horizon", Europe will undergo a "sound thrust", but we hope that this awakening will not delay further, or else Europeans one day will be confined in a dead corner of history". Referring to the renowned conflict between hard power and soft power and between "Mars and Venus", developed by American politilogist Robert Kagan, Fr Madelin remarked that "the United States have sided with the side of Mars and of hard power which is not afraid of reaffirming its power". Conversely Europe, supports "judicial courts with international responsibilities such as The Court of the Hague or the Penal International Court", tasked with "fighting climate changes" or "regulating international trade". Moreover, warns the Jesuit, "in order to assess Europe’s present role in the world, we must consider the original European building", which is not " a Federation of Nation-States", and therefore "is marked by an unprecedented political shape". Furthermore "the philosophy of the European project is historically marked by the refusal of power that led to the 1945 catastrophes". For Jean Monnet, Madelin continued, "we should seek the fusion of Euorpean interestes", not only their "balance". Excellent services. According to the Jesuit politologist, "a promising innovation of the Lisbon Treaty is the building of an overarching juridical framework" thus making "Europe’s external action more coherent, and if possible, more effective in the future". Europe, "that allocates half of all aids to development in the world, avails itself of financial instruments, great objectives, and high-level customization", and it aspires to a “mission” that ranges from political and diplomatic relations to crisis management, from humanitarian action to issues related to defense". Referring to SEAE (European External Action Service) and to High EU Representative Catherine Ashton, father Madelin doesn’t conceal difficulties in its take off, hoping that "an excellence service may ensue, capable of harmonizing Member States’ positions linked to different cultures and national traditions". Absence of a European people. Europe, he underlined, is growing "in the absence of a European population", while "for more important security reasons" its citizens tend to turn to Washington rather than to Brussels" proving to be strong supporters of international institutions such as NATO and OECD. For Father Madelin, this attitude could "delay the construction of a political Europe", representing "the best antidote" to their fears. "Rejecting war as a means of conflict resolution must remain a consolidated choice in time – reiterates the politologist – and should not become a weakness of consensus before situations that Europe is unable to address". Speaking with a single voice. Recognizing that "in public opinions of Member States there is a yearning for Europe", father Madelin states that "it should lead to the adoption of tools enabling Europe to speak with a single voice on the major questions that involve the peaceful future of the planet and its role in the world. United and determined, it will count even if only in terms of its demography, and the more unwilling will be forced to admit that it’s necessary to come to terms with Europe. If it continues being divided and uncertain, when it will come to sensitive issues, the only option will be to bury its head in the sand", which "is precisely what Europe is doing as relates to hot issues such as Israel and Palestine, with the risk of losing its honor and cooling down the hope that many world Countries – rich or poor – have reposed in it".