Step by step

“I wish to express my satisfaction for the outcome of the Union’s Portuguese Presidency and for the outcome of the summit”: José Socrates, Premier of Portugal and rotating President of the 27 in this year’s second semester, ended his mandate by illustrating the achieved goals and leaving his position to Slovenia, first ex-Communist Country and new EU Member State appointed to lead the Community starting January 1st 2008. Oucome of the summit. At the end of an intense week marked by the proclamation of the Fundamental Rights Charter and the signature on the Reform Treaty, Mr.Socrates referred on the outcome of the summit held in Brussels on December 14. Many were the topics on the agenda, however Mr. Socrates accurately decided to highlight one in particular: “We have taken a decision on the European civil mission in Kosovo”. In the framework of multilateral policies and in agreement with the United Nations, Europe took charge of sending to Kosovo 1,800 people – administration officials, lawyers, law-enforcement officers – over the next few months to “stabilize the territory” and “easen the transition”. This a broad definition which doesn’t give much certainty about Pristina and raises concern in view of a possible unilateral declaration of independence and of Serbia’s reactions. To which the adhering States tend their hand, with the promise of a possible “acceleration” to Union adhesion. THE GROUP OF THE “WISE MEN”. “We created a reflection group on the future of integration chaired by Spain’s former Prime Minister Felipe Gonzales”, Socrates explained with reference to the Summit’s written “conclusions”: “In order to help the EU anticipate and find long-term solutions to problems (2020-2030 horizon), the European Council will set up an independent reflection group”. The Berlin Declaration of March 2007, ratified during the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the establishing Treaties, is referred to. It is equally pointed out that “the group will have to identify those issues and developments of crucial issues within the Union and analyze possible solutions”. Follows a list of the topics which the nine “wise men” will be addressing, excluding (as specified) “institutional questions”: “to strengthen and modernize the European model of economic success and social responsibility; intensify EU competitiveness; Rule of the Law; sustainable development; migrations; energy and climate protection; fight against global insecurity; international crime and terrorism”. The document also states that “effort should be put in identifying the best way of establishing relations with citizens in order to respond to their needs and expectations”. POETTERING’S DOUBTS. The weak spot in the decision of setting up a reflection group is the time factor. The Group will be established within 2008 and “will report to the European Council in the reunion of June 2010”. Doubts were expressed also by the President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Poettering, in the framework of the summit: “This reflection group”, he explained, “is not one of our priorities”. According to the German politician, the “wise men” cannot replace the politicians elected by citizens”. In other words, government Councils and the Parliament are the bodies in charge of handling responsibilities concerning the integration process. Since these represent citizens and have “already been addressing this issues publicly”. Poettering’s perplexities were put forward again during the extraordinary parliamentary session of December 18, aimed at assessing the summit results. TrEATY AND SCHENGEN AREA. Having left aside the tensions accumulated during the many institutional gatherings, Socrates is a stream of words. He thanked the German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her “excellent work” in the Union in this year’s first semester, which paved the way to the Lisbon Treaty; he explained the “fundamental” role of the Parliament in supporting integration. He then passed to listing the “results of these six months. Starting from the signature of the Reform Treaty, thanks to which Europe will be stronger” and “capable of responding to future challenges”. He positively views the “extension of the Schengen area which will be implemented next December 21 and 22. Frontiers with different Eastern Europe countries will collapse and citizens will move in the EU more freely”. Socrates continues the list of the results of the semester and of the latest summit under his presidence: he mentioned the “flexicurity” document and the “steps forward” in the field of migration, security and the Lisbon Strategy (competitiveness and employment), the green light to Galileo and the definition of Community maritime policies.