Long live Poland but let's be careful about future accessions. A triple opportunity for the EU: the Council is currently presided over by Poland. This country's prime minister is passionate about European construction and enjoys the broad support of his people (which was confirmed in national elections last Sunday). If we take a look at a few other recent European Presidencies or forthcoming ones, it might make us feel like shouting “Long live Poland!” In principle, being the prime minister of the country presiding over the Council is not exactly the most scintillating of tasks because at a European level he is president of practically nothing. The summit has its own permanent president and the sector Councils are presided over by the different ministers of his government. Donald Tusk, however, has ratcheted up his European activity to a maximum by sometimes replacing Ms Ashton, addressing the European Parliament or heading important events such as the Eastern Partnership Summit, which I have been looking at over the past few days. His goal consisted of underlining the fact that for the EU, relations with the East are as important as relations with the South. He attained his objective. This column, however, had a word of warning: enhanced relations with countries from this Partnership do not automatically constitute a stage towards their accession.
A certain demagogy. Explanations developed in this column yesterday and the day before yesterday relate to a complex context that is shifting and sometimes dangerous and should be looked at as a whole. Vladimir Putin had barely taken up his presidential functions in Moscow before he launched the idea of a Euro-Asian Union, which would bring together some of the former republics of the USSR, including three EU members (Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia), Ukraine (it had already been pointed out that a very close link with Russia would make its association with the EU difficult, which the Tymoshenko affair has fully borne out), several other countries from the Eastern Partnership, including Georgia, whose conflict with Russia has still not been resolved. Belarus creates the impression that it regards its relations with Moscow as being more important than it as relations with Brussels (except when it comes to obtaining financial aid). Other burning issues could also be mentioned. All of this together creates a more complete picture in which the EU should have its say. It can play an essential role from the outside (and has already proved this) but not as a party that is directly involved. A few vague desires of accession smack of a certain demagogy.
European financial aid has its limits. The second aspect to examine involves budgetary and financial considerations. A lot of member states are experiencing serious difficulties and are compelled to apply tough austerity policies. Correction of their deficits is imperative and is occurring almost everywhere. At the same time, a number of other countries elsewhere, developing and otherwise, have accumulated and continue to amass significant monetary reserves of sometimes staggering proportions. Despite this, the EU is still the biggest donor (to the Palestinians, Africans and international projects, etc), whilst at the same time, member state “net contributor” countries to the Community budget are decreasing all the time.
It should be pointed out that all accession candidate countries are seeking to benefit from this budget. We may assume that this prospect for a number of them represents a major factor in spurring on their respective candidacies. This is also the case for countries close to the EU but which will never be able to join (including both Mediterranean and Eastern countries) and for which the most commonly held attitude is the wish to obtain European financial assistance.
At the same time, the whole world is imploring the EU and its member states to rectify their budgetary situations and for their respective citizens to accept the effort and sacrifice necessary to achieve this goal.
Europe united means peace. The previous considerations should not always be taken as read. It is obvious that the EU will continue to play its international role and support the countries within its orbit, as well as contribute to global projects of general interest, on the condition that the Union is not watered down. It will also embark upon new initiatives and despite its mistakes, it often shows the right way ahead. Steven Pinker, a professor at Harvard University, presented his new book last week on “The Decline of Violence” and declared that western Europe is not only the safest place to live today it is also the most peaceful place in the history of humanity. His analysis demonstrates this.
The Eastern Partnership's prospects and the way in which it operates are largely positive but it must take this context into account and locate itself within it. The partnership Summit organised by Poland has allowed me to sketch an outline, without skirting over the problems, of the EU's line on the east, its relations with Russia and also with the countries that see themselves as part of Europe. These are some of the many subjects on which the EU still has to ponder and take action, whilst taking into account the European and global situations.
(FR/transl.fl)