The next steps

The last European summits – held in November and December 2012, and past February – failed to produce encouraging results for the complex progress of the EU. On the major themes of economic governance and multiannual budget, the Heads of Government and State of EU27 (joined by Croatia’s Prime Minister, in view of the country’s forthcoming adhesion) brought to Brussels the burden of national interests, rather than the tool-box to strengthen the EU as a key for the resolution of common problems, starting with the recession. In the coming months there will be occasions to recover the path of integration. The next appointments. The next European Council itabled for next March 14 and 15, the Spring Summit, is traditionally devoted to economic issues. In fact, the items on the agenda include debates and decisions on the "European Semester" – the European coordination tool of economic policies), the implementation of the Pact for Growth, that remained on paper until now, along with the Europe 2020 "flagship initiatives" to support employment, productivity and social cohesion in Europe. Two further EU summits planned for May and June are set to address various pending issues that include the single banking supervisory mechanism, economic and monetary union, and the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020. On these three fronts, EU heads of state and prime ministers are risking their own credibility on a continental scale. They promised to reach constructive agreements while so far they have shown hesitation and fuelled misunderstandings. Ongoing debate. Several premiers premier conformed to their constituencies’ populist claims, which fomented nationalistic stances. Indeed, the sovereign debt crisis marked a watershed between more or less "rich" Countries, namely, those who were able to address economic and financial difficulties and those that had to resort to the financial support of the EU, of the Central Bank, and/or of the International Monetary Fund. The term "solidarity", a historical pillar of Community Europe, is no longer present in political discourse, while euro-prudent and overtly anti-europeanist stances gained centre stage. British PM David Cameron’s speech in January, heralding the plan for a referendum on EU-membership for British citizens, was viewed at the quintessence of the recovery of "prevailing national interests". But it appears that time has run out, as all economic and geopolitical experts agree on the need for a Europe that can work as a "team" so as to address challenges that exceed national capacities. The point was reiterated -albeit with different nuances and tones – also by leaders such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande. The president of the EU Commission José Manuel Barroso, EP President Martin Schulz and the President of the ECB Mario Draghi reaffirmed the same stand. Outside EU borders, their words were echoed by US President Barack Obama. A compromise agreement? Which direction could the EU follow in the short and medium term? Despite the rumours, the idea that a Member State could interrupt relations with Brussels, and the national yearnings to thwart the progress of banking and economic union, knowing that this move would imply handing over a portion of national sovereignty while having to make further steps to ensure political integration, are hard to believe. The completion of the Multiannual Financial Framework will bear evidence of the clear will to reach a compromise agreement between the 28 States. The MFF covers a seven-year period, envisaging investments in EU Member countries, drawn from les than 1% of Europe’s global GDP. Some items of expenditure could be adjusted, although within given limits. Conversely, the EU would be unable to carry out the policies and projects it has been entrusted by national governments, i.e. social and regional cohesion, competitiveness, research, agriculture, environmental protection, public health and consumer protection, certain aspects of culture and education (such as "Erasmus for all") security policy, border control, the fight against fraud, against transnational crime and terrorism, to include the development of a first nucleus of common foreign policy. Sense of responsibility. EU common bodies and national governments – the main decision-making authority as relates to the EU – are tasked with taking such decisions. The recovery of "a sense of responsibility", underlined by the president of the EU Commission, that will "overcome national interests" to bring about the establishment of a stronger and more united Europe, capable of delivering "concrete results" that will benefit citizens, "respectful of national differences", is direly expected.