Respecting the choice of the people. All EU member states, except for Spain, Greece and Cyprus, are currently governed by the centre-right (sometimes with the participation of the right), which means that within the European Council and the different sectoral Councils, it is these political forces that largely have a majority. Obviously the European Commission is independent and the European Parliament is using its expanded powers with increasing authority, including the possibilities for developing compromise and with the respective parties winning and losing their respective majorities. Our publication regularly provides reports on the positions of the different political currents. Nonetheless, this often proves to be a difficult task for a commentator because the choice made by the people has to be respected. Let me explain.
If the Hungarian people decide to choose a Eurosceptic government, it has to be accepted and emphasis should be placed on positive aspects and developments. This column has done its best to carry out this task and has at times, perhaps, clumsily illustrated how responsibility for presiding over the Community Council has developed among Hungarian ministers a greater knowledge and understanding of European affairs, the European Community and its objectives. It has also led to the Hungarian government's active cooperation with the Commission. The Hungarian prime minister agreed to amend the country's law on the freedom of information in an effort to comply with remarks made by the Commission and (partially) Parliament. Mr Orbán expressed his willingness to take into account these remarks on the new national constitution. This column has, however, overtly criticised certain personal positions taken by Mr Orbán with regard to the enlargement of the EU.
A mutually agreed demand. The European political debate is obviously something very different. The different political forces express themselves without equivocation by highlighting the differences between themselves. The Socialists are in opposition almost everywhere and are hoping to change this situation. The partisans of European construction do not give the Eurosceptics an easy time and the latter certainly do not attempt to hide their ideas. Without directly intervening in the debate, I have on a number of occasions underlined the role played by Mr Verhofstadt in asserting the Community method as opposed to the intergovernmental method.
As part of my demand to respect the choice made by the people (which, fortunately, enjoys the freedom of speech in Europe) I would like to point out that political leaders also acknowledge this demand. Whilst vigorously affirming their own political convictions and opinions, they are aware of the need to take into consideration what the real situation is. Paul Magnette, the Belgian government minister responsible for current affairs declared: “Governing with parties whose ideas are very different from ours, is not an ideal situation. Nevertheless, democracy requires it. To say that a party that has won the elections in Flanders should be excluded, would be to deny the Flemings a vote and would only reinforce bitterness and centrifugal tension” (Le Soir, 1 May). Mr Magnette does not attempt to conceal his personal opinion and has vehemently attacked the progress made by populist parties in several Community countries, including Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Nonetheless, in relation to a party from his own country that propagates similar views, he argues, “it won the elections and we can not ignore this”. One well-known commentator, Sergio Romano, recently wrote that “it is difficult to sing the praises of European unity at a time when fashion dictates that it must be criticised”.
Freedom to advance further or even leave. Respecting the choice of the people must, however, be accompanied by comprehensive and unhesitating use of the provisions contained in the Treaties, which allow each country that wants to move forward to do so with other countries that share this wish in a number of different areas. On the single currency, the texts are not very clear but there is nothing ambiguous about the situation and if a country fails to accept the rules and required discipline, despite receiving general (cohesion policy and budgetary subsidies etc) and specific support, it cannot be part of the eurozone. Many other accomplishments and areas of progress in European integration are possible between member states, including common foreign and defence policy. With regard to the political parties or ministers who vociferously express their intention to leave the EU, the response is quite simple and this column often points it out to those that may have forgotten: the door is open and any member state can leave if it so wishes.
In the past, Europe has been the birthplace of all conflicts. The enterprise undertaken to make these conflicts impossible forever, means that those who understand it, will never allow it to be abolished.
(F.R./transl.fl)