What all the countries of the euro should be in search of. The French resolve to free France of its crushing public debt as much and as quickly as possible is a real example. I am not referring to the political approach, nor to the content of the measures envisaged - each country is master of what it does and chooses its route. I am referring rather to the intention in itself and to its motivation - a country which purports to be master of its destiny and its behaviour cannot depend on others to cover the main part of its expenditure. This is a principle which can be pursued in different ways and its timeframes can vary, but it is absolutely key because the political autonomy of a country is linked to its financial autonomy.
This concept, widely shared, does not mean that all are applying it. In a vast and complex body like the eurozone, it is normal that the member states give account of their behaviour to their partners and respect the rules that were defined together. In this Eurozone, the support mechanisms are numerous and generous, and the possibility for any member state in difficulty to appeal for support is part of the system - it has already happened on several occasions and will happen again. It also stands to reason that, according to the circumstances, the support can be prolonged and the application of the rules can be relaxed. Yet if a member state is not able - quite clearly - to respect the crucial disciplines for the operation of the single currency, it must leave it and its departure does not in any way involve exiting the EU, or the loss of Community support. And this is a choice which would involve all the citizens.
The Italians want the euro. Beppe Grillo's M5S political party can show some flexibility in its programme - the online referendum on the position of the Italians with regard to staying in the eurozone. It can be flexible because the referendum has just been done in the form of a survey. And the results, published by the Corriere de la Sera, are so clear that no uncertainty is possible: 74% of Italians are opposed to a return to the national currency. This percentage is still higher among young people and among graduates even higher: 70% think that an official referendum is not appropriate, 21% that it is quite appropriate and 9% very appropriate.
Abandoning the euro is rejected by the majority of the political forces - including the political party of Mr Berlusconi, who had taken a return to the lira into consideration in the electoral campaign, and including the political party of Beppe Grillo himself, who wanted the official referendum. For the large majority of Italians, the return to the national currency would be “a real disaster for the economy”.
Maintaining Europe's place. The observations above and the gamut of choices that are imposed on Europe call for an awareness of the global transformation that is currently taking place. It is the history of humanity that is in the process of changing. Scholars and wise men who know infinitely more than me prove this and explain it by placing the on-going transformations in the development of history.
China and India dominated the first millennium of the period when history became global. In the 17th Century of the present era, these countries represented two thirds of the global economy and they are simply in the process of resuming their role. Africa is getting there too - more slowly. The western world needs to be aware of this. I have even read recently that Europe's assets in the world which is being born would only be luxury goods and services, aeronautics, tourism, and food-processing - a choice which is a bit strange and too limited, but one which is telling and confirms the need for Europe and the United States to act together if the Western world wants to keep its place. The European summit this week ought to keep in mind the context in which it will deliberate.
Risks for humanity. The debate should be widened - if humanity continues to crush nature on the Earth and in the seas, its history risks not going on for much longer. The initial reactions to the drifting that is currently taking place are derisory - the efforts to save a few animals as irreplaceable as the polar bear or wolves are often a failure because they hinder human activity in the area. And let's not mention the crimes against our sublime elephants in order to snatch their ivory tusks away from them, or the attack on bees (which will be paid for dearly by humanity).
And who would dare to say that humanity will also have to control its increasing size so as not to exceed what our limited and fragile planet will be able to bear?
(FR/transl.fl)