Appeal for coherence. There are moments when temptation is strong. I am talking about the temptation to invite those who systematically denigrate the EU and denounce its inefficiency, to take coherent action with regard to their complaints and leave the eurozone if they are part of it or even leave the EU if they so wish. A minority of Europeans have understood the importance and meaning of the results obtained at the end of last week's informal eurozone summit. The majority of reactions, however, slavishly follow the fashion of portraying the EU as powerless and damaging. The same thing can be observed with regard to the European Council's debates on Friday afternoon, which focused on the situation in non-EU Mediterranean countries.
Meeting the demands of the discontented. It is not complicated. Surveys in France indicate that the majority of public support is garnered by a political movement (Ms Le Pen's) in favour of leaving the euro and the EU itself? No problem - let France leave the one or the other, if this is the wish expressed by the majority of its people. Is public opinion castigating the impotence of the EU in other member states? All that is needed is to do away with superfluous decisions and revert back to the national currencies and internal borders of the past. It has to be said that the weakest countries in the eurozone are making enormous and sometimes painful efforts to remain in this zone and those that are still on the sidelines are only dreaming of one thing and that is to join it. Should we conclude that they have understood absolutely nothing? It is also true that many thousands of nationals from Arab countries, who have won their freedom, are risking their lives in trying to reach Community territory. Surely, they must be mistaken too? These voluntary exiles ought to recognise that winning freedom and democracy in their countries removes their right of asylum in the EU. They can no longer claim that they are in danger of persecution in their home countries and their flight to Europe can only be interpreted as being motivated by the wrong reasons. It is logical that the great majority of them should be sent back to where they set out. The European Commission document “Partnership for Democracy and Shared Prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean” (EUROPE 10331) includes initiatives on legal immigration, as well as increased cooperation in fighting illegal immigration.
The real situation. The second aspect of the response to radical Eurosceptics can be found in the objective analysis of the position put forward by Ms Le Pen. According to the most recent surveys in France, this position is winning majority support. After leaving the euro and re-establishing the national currency, French companies would, nevertheless, have to pay back their debt in euro, and national debt in the same currency, which would become a terrible, indeed, untenable burden. With devaluation of between 20 and 25% of the national currency, oil and imported raw materials would increase in price by the same amount. Protectionist policy involving the taxation of imports from Germany, China and elsewhere would increase prices in France and block French exports to these same countries because the latter would logically have responded to these measures in a similar way. Internationally, the euro does carry some weight and the new French franc would have none at all. This is not a political project, it is the position of a fanatical mindset, which is totally ignorant about the real situation.
Someone has understood. I consider that everything described above obviously does not represent anything other than a farcical reaction to the definitive consolidation of the single currency and the new democracies developing on the southern shores of the Mediterranean. There are those that have understood this and I will quote one of them, Alain Minc: “The way in which Europeans disparage themselves, leaves me with despair. The European area is the freest, the most democratic and most protective of the old western universe. Europe is no longer proud of itself. Nonetheless, the progress that it has made in all the different areas - individual freedom and behaviour, concepts of life and death and even immigration - are impressive… our model is one of freedom and balance and we must protect it. Not by closing ourselves off but by defending it. A more integrated hard-core of countries provides our best response.”
The ancient dream is contained in our texts. Obviously, the unity that has been won in the eurozone far from covers all the different details. There are divergences with Ireland over corporation tax, uncertainties with regard to the tax on financial transactions, and procedures for introducing small amendments to the Treaty (with Andrew Duff's suggestions). Nevertheless, what is crucial has been acquired, notably with regard to economic governance and the future regime governing the euro. What formerly appeared as a dream is now contained within the texts. Although a lot of Europeans have still not understood it, this is a momentous accomplishment.
(F.R./transl.fl)