Brussels, 14/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - The former Italian prime minister, Massimo D'Alema, who is currently the president of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), harbours the ambition to change Europe and believes the Mediterranean should be the priority of the EU's foreign policy.
In Brussels on Tuesday 11 March, presenting his pamphlet It's not just about euro, which summarises discussions over recent years within, amongst others, the Foundation he chairs, D'Alema said: “we share the discontent about Europe spread in European public opinion. Our response is not to abandon the euro or the project of European integration, but we want a more democratic Europe and we want to change the policies.” He argues in favour of an alternative strategy to austerity based on investment, flexible use of the Stability and Growth Pact and a common sovereign debt strategy.
On this, D'Alema supports a partial pooling of the debt of eurozone countries, but “not to ask the net contributors to the EU budget, such as Germany, to pay off the debt”. This pooling of the debt should, he believes, make it possible to bring down interest rates and to free up resources for growth, employment, research and education. He recommends European institutions that are closer to the citizens, with a president of the European Commission appointed by the citizens, and not the governments. The president of the Commission should be able to balance the power of the national governments, D'Alema believes.
Mediterranean on top of priority list. The EU must stand “united” to play a major role in the world, or its destiny will be progressively marginalised, the former Italian prime minister warns. Without this unity and without consistency in the EU's position, “in a few years' time, no country of Europe will be able to sit around the G7 table”, he predicts. “We must now turn our foreign policy towards the Mediterranean. This is the new frontier for the European neighbourhood policy and the EU foreign policy”, D'Alema stressed. This must be the mission of the EU, particularly as the US is seeking to withdraw from the Mediterranean.
Answering questions from the press, D'Alema spoke on the following topics:
European elections. “We are confident that the Socialists will be able to become the largest group in the new European Parliament. Unfortunately, the populist and anti-European movements could gain ground within the European Parliament”, he said.
Ukrainian crisis. Up to now, the EU's position has been a cautious one, he said. “I can understand this. The situation is a complex one. It cannot be summed up in a conflict between the people and the dictatorship.” He pointed out that originally (two centuries ago), the northern shore of the Black Sea was part of the Turkish Empire. At the end of the 18th century, the area was conquered by Catherine the Great, and renamed New Russia. “The military occupation of the Russians cannot be accepted. But the solution is not for the EU to be arrogant. There is no alternative to dialogue. We have to maintain Ukraine's unity, whilst respecting the rights of the Russians in Crimea, and the interests of Russia”, he said. He went on to warn that “we must not roll over to nationalism in Ukraine”. He believes that Europe is heading in this direction. He added that the crisis is also the result of mistakes made by the ousted Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovych and his government. “They long resisted the pressure of international public opinion, particularly over the liberation of Yulia Tymoshenko”, he observed. This situation led to problems in negotiations with Europe and caused the popular uprising.
Furthermore, the EU has a problem with strategy with Russia. “A united Europe in negotiations with Russia on energy would stand stronger against Putin, who is taking advantage of the division between European countries”, said D'Alema. The EU must also diversify its sources of supply. He concluded that the network of gas in Europe will already allow 20% reductions in gas imports. (LC)