A year after

A re-found climate of dialogue, some promising innovations and a confirmation of negative sign: the first assessment of the summit of 15-16 June permits us to review the process of EU integration.First of all, it should be recognized that a cautious climate of confidence in the future of the Union was felt in the corridors of the Justus Lipsius building, headquarters of the European Council in Brussels, in recent days. After a year spent licking the wounds inflicted by the double French and Dutch “no” to the Constitution, the 25 have perhaps understood that immobility and suspension of judgement will not help progress towards the Europe of “unity in diversity”. The heads of state and of government must have realized that the citizens are awaiting clear responses with regard to the democracy and transparency of the EU, its internal solidity (institutional, political and financial), and its “international stature”. This climate permitted a frank, sometimes combative dialogue, between the governments of the member states, which finally led to four decisions of some importance. The first regards the confirmation of the constitutional process. No leader opposed the need to give a Constitution to a Europe so huge from a geographical, demographic, political and institutional point of view. So the EU has a need for a Constitution. By the end of 2008 the European Council will take a final decision on the modes and times of ratification, before passing to the entry into force of the text signed in Rome on 29 October 2004. The second decision concerns the so-called “two-track policy”. “We are inaugurating today a two-track policy – explained the Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel, current President of the Council, with some satisfaction -: on the one hand, we are committed to defining the institutional framework of the EU, comprising the fundamental chapter of the Constitution; on the other, we are leaving behind us the pause for reflection and entering into that of concrete projects and results”, in order to meet the “daily needs of citizens and the concerns expressed by public opinion on the future of Europe”. In other words: more action, less words. Third point: the leaders have agreed to meet in Berlin on 25 March 2007, fifty years after the signing of the EEC Institutional Treaties, for a “solemn declaration” that would “acknowledge the journey of peace and development made together over the last half century and prefigure our common course” in the future. A kind of “European credo”, spelt out in black and white to avoid any doubts on the matter. Fourth important decision: the process of enlargement is confirmed. The doors are open to all the countries that are geographically and culturally European, and that share the values and objectives of the Union, though without ignoring the EU’s “capacity for absorption”. In other words, the EU will proceed with caution, to prevent the European giant from having too shallow foundations to enable it to stand on its feet. There remains, lastly, the contradictory note. The 25 have reaffirmed their faith in the Constitution; but while some would like terminologically to divest it of its status as “treatise”, they decided unanimously to postpone any decision on the matter to the end of 2008: i.e. after the French presidential elections, after the general elections in Holland and in the light of some other new political settlements in the member countries. In this way the European Community would remain bound to the constraints imposed by the internal developments of member states and exposed to the revived nationalism of leaders pro tempore .