From Ypres to Brussels ” “Europe seeks recovery

The emphasis has relatively changed, the “atmosphere” less so, but the content has remained the same. The summit of EU 28 heads of government and State, summoned in Ypres and Brussels on June 26-27, is designed to signal a “time of growth”, but criticism of national budgets “rigor” lingered on. Only sound budgets – Germany and North European countries have repeatedly pointed out – will bring about new energy and funds for investment, to carry out reforms needed to pull the economy out of the abyss. The summer European Council will be held in a transition phase: the spectre of the crisis -or rather, its worst phase -seems to have been overcome; “macro” statistics signal slow recovery (exception made for the job market; the issue will be resumed in 2015); confidence grows and with it also productive investment. National deficits are gradually being fixed, although some Countries exceeded the limits established in Maastricht (a familiar issue for France…). There is also the problem of sovereign debts: too many Countries fail to put them within acceptable limits (Italy has the most alarming picture). The long-standing recession has forced the Europe of common States and institutions to set countermeasures which are gradually proving their effectiveness: the “European semester”, the strengthening of economic governance, banking Union, the ECB’s new powers of intervention, the European Financial Stability Facility and even the much reviled “fiscal compact” and “troika” are all tools developed in EU seats that are helping revitalize the economy, paving the way for potential recovery. Heavy repercussions on employment and in social terms persist (which the situations in Greece, Ireland, Spain, Romania, and Slovakia, are evidence of). It will take years to heal these wounds – which fuelled various forms of Euroscepticism that took shape in the European Parliament election of May 22-25. Thus while there is a glimpse of recovery it’s also time to open the taps – as German Chancellor Angela Merkel proposed a few hours ago – and identify the political, financial expedients motivated by the “flexibility” of Maastricht regulations to hasten a new phase of growth. Against the backdrop of financial rigour new funds must be sought to revamp all productive systems, trade, credit to enterprise and the family, consumption. The long-awaited “virtuous spiral” of a growing economy that creates wellbeing could become the major goal of national governments and of the EU as a whole for the next four years, provided that – Merkel reiterated – national budgets are under control. It’s no coincidence that the European Council proposed Jean-Claude Juncker as candidate for the presidency of the Commission, to be voted by the European Parliament. A long-term politician, from the Christian-Democratic family, former chair of the World Bank, Luxembourg’s Prime Minister for 18 years, president of the Eurogroup, Junker, EPP candidate for the presidency of the EU Commission, throughout the election campaign pointed out that “without rigour there are no conditions for growth”. Thus the European vessel intends to set sail headed towards new horizons of growth, without jettisoning all the efforts made for recovery. Junker could well represent the banner of a restored atmosphere of understanding which is being developed in Brussels despite reluctance and difficulties, provided that the experienced politician from Luxembourg frees himself from the tight embrace of Chancellor Merkel and even from that of Italian premier Matteo Renzi, six-month president of the EU as of next July 1st. Indeed, to best perform his role as defined by the Treaties, the President of the Commission shall represent and pursue the common interests of the Union, without taking the sides of one or a few countries, nor that of a “preferred axis” intended to be given the guiding role of EU28. Finally, a detail that must not be overlooked: the European Council has been summoned for its first meeting in Ypres, in the Flemish part of Belgium, to commemorate the centenary of WWI, which in the Country was particularly violent, leaving hundreds of thousands dead. The message is clear: Community Europe is the peaceful and democratic response to national egoisms, divisions, to the will of prevailing over others. The EU is a path of solidarity, of “unity in diversity”, which in faithfulness to its original project, cries out “no more war”. From Ypres the 28 Member Countries reiterated the values on which the integration process reposes. It can be subject to revisions, updates, even “adjusted” or “made thinner” (according to a request by British premier David Cameron), but still today, despite everything else, it’s a pre-emptive response to conflicts and the banner of democracy, rights, and development. Ypres, like Sarajevo and even like Kiev – is a constant reminder of it.