Together for the future

“The EU is more than a common market. It is also a Union of values”. Although the statement is not new, its collocation is highly significant: the “Project Europe 2030” drawn up by an ad hoc commission set up by the EU and submitted to the Heads of Government and State during the recent summit in Brussels.From analyses to proposals. The mandate once assigned to “the Reflection Group in the future of the EU” – chaired by ex Spanish Premier and consisting in twelve members with renown political, economic and cultural experience – indicated the need to develop an analysis and submit proposals to help the “common home” overcome contemporary challenges, recover citizens’ central role in the European project and extend the glance on the world scenario. The Commission’s major activity took place from the end of 2008 to 2009, in a particularly difficult historical period, marked by recession and by difficulties linked to the ratification and the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty. As expected, the final statement – available in the official EU languages on the website www.consilium.europa.eu – is characterized by analytical sections (the social and economic model, the challenge of demography, energy security and climate change, internal security, the EU and its citizens and so on.) and a general reflection on the future of integration, which is considered possible and useful provided that everyone, common institutions, Member States and citizens, “will do their share”. The political leadership and the media devoted little attention to the document submitted in June’s European Council. Indeed, issues such as the crisis, the G20 preparations and foreign policy questions were under the limelight. Moreover, the document deserves attention, as it reiterates a series of key-issues regarding the EU’s progress, which in some cases are rooted within Community history.Not a “passive witness”. “Our findings are reassuring neither to the Union nor to our citizens”, acknowledges the reflection Group, tracing an articulated picture of reality: “a global economic crisis; States coming to the rescue of banks; ageing populations threatening the competitiveness of our economies and the sustainability of our social models; downward pressure on costs and wages; the challenges of climate change and increasing energy dependence”. And on top of this, “the threats of terrorism, organised crime and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction hang over us”. Follow basic questions: “Will the EU be able to maintain and increase its level of prosperity in this changing world? Will it be able to promote and defend Europe’s values and interests?”. “Our answer is yes”, the experts reply. The European Union “can be an agent of change in the world” and not just a passive witness. But this will only be possible if we work together; the challenges ahead are too large for any European country to address on their own”. Believing in the common project. The document broaches several themes, some of which are accompanied by political guidelines: strengthening economic governance, developing the internal market, rejecting “the temptations of economic nationalism”, maintaining social cohesion, and a more balanced and efficient relationship amongst EU institutions. “Human capital is the key strategic instrument for ensuring success in the global economy. And yet, Europe has lost considerable ground in the race to a knowledge economy”, states the document. And catching up will require “a coordinated effort”. Hence Member States are encouraged to mobilise the resources they agreed to invest in research and development, “with the help of the private sector”, and “reform all aspects of education”. Major emphasis is placed on the so-called challenge of demography: “If urgent measures are not taken, our ageing societies will put unsustainable pressure on our pension, health and welfare systems, and undermine our economic competitiveness”. According to “Europe 2030” priority measures must include “increasing the proportion of women in the workforce” facilitating “a better work-life balance” and “developing a more pro-active immigration policy suited to our demographic and labour market needs”. Finally, the project issues a warning: “With the support of the citizens of Europe the EU can lead efforts to address major global challenges. Confronted by a crisis which they did not create, our citizens will only renew their belief in the European project if their leaders are honest with them about the scale of the challenges ahead, and if they are called upon to make efforts comparable to those that brought prosperity to Europe after the Second World War”.