Positive balance

The balance of fifty years of European unification is undoubtedly positive. Peace has been preserved, and the consolidation of many common policies has improved the quality of life of European citizens: economy, agriculture, regional development, fundamental liberties. The European social model and the single currency, the euro, protect the European states from the cyclical crises of the globalized financial markets. On the international scene, the EU is the main partner for world trade and for aid to the growth of democracy and development in the poorest countries of the world. Much has been achieved, but much still remains to be done. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE . The Institutions in Brussels are now inadequate to meet the needs of a Union that is set to comprise thirty member states in a few years’ time. The Constitutional Treaty dedicates ample space to institutional reforms: wide-ranging abolition of the right to veto and double majority for votes in Council, reduction of the number of Commissioners, new powers in external policy, increased powers for the European Parliament. The “period of reflection” imposed after the French and Dutch rejection of the Constitution has lasted long enough: the proposals to resume the articles on which consensus exists, and which can be approved individually by the member states, should therefore be welcomed.EU IN THE WORLD. In spite of its efforts, the EU is able to do little in trying to solve African regional conflicts and even less in trying to broker a solution to the Middle-East crisis. And what about Iraq? Or Afghanistan, where the situation remains of extreme difficulty? Perhaps not even in Kosovo can we speak of “mission accomplished” for the EU peacekeeping force. Despite that, the European Union and its member states have the duty to spread peace and stability also outside its borders. Enlargement to the East represents a success of historic magnitude. Also positive is the shift from a substantially humanitarian policy in the sector of aid to the development of democracy to a system where economic support is linked to efficiency in its management and to the benefits it brings to the populations. What’s lacking is Europe’s ability to speak with a single political and diplomatic voice. The Constitution provides to this end for the new and complementary roles of President of the European Council and EU Minister of External Affairs: the challenge consists in persuading all member states to relinquish parts of their national sovereignty to ensure that political action may finally complement economic action.ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT. Today energy and environment represent absolute priorities for the Europe of the future, in view of the threats by which Europeans are faced due to the unsustainable energy dependency of most member states and the climate changes that are dramatically evident to us. Even short-term analyses and predictions leave little room for optimism and underline the compelling need to change route: reduction of greenhouse gases, more renewable energy, priority to bio-fuels rather than fossil fuels, and a new strategy for the protection of the seas. The conclusions of the last Summit of heads of state and of government are dedicated to just these issues. EU leaders play a key role at the world level in correctly directing policies, resources and investments: but it is also up to us citizens to give, as far as we can, a good example.CITIZENSHIP. “Plan D for democracy, dialogue and debate” was presented by the European Commission in October 2005 with the aim of “launching a wide-ranging and intensive debate on European policies involving citizens, civil society, social organizations, national parliaments and political parties and reviving the confidence of public opinion in the European Union”. Also thanks to this initiative, there has been no reduction in the level of attention paid to the questions that directly concern the life of European citizens and to the policies linked to the Lisbon and Goteborg Strategies: welfare, education and training, research and innovation, social inclusion. The prospect of a Europe that does not seek the active and conscious participation of those – whether as organized expression of civil society or as individual citizens – have something positive to say or to offer to improve the EU is to be rejected. It is up to the European Parliament finally to assume responsibility and exercise leadership in democratic dialogue.DEBATE ON LINE . The participants in the Internet Forum of the EU dedicated to the debate on the future of Europe are invited to express their views on three areas: social and economic development; attitudes to the EU and its tasks; the frontiers of Europe and its role in the world. The questions most frequently discussed are the economy, relations with the USA and China, the Constitution, the democratic deficit, information policies, energy, languages, the accession of Turkey, and the far from resolved question of the Christian roots of Europe. The Forum is on the website: http://www.europa.eu/debateeurope/index_it.htm.