Positive phase? This present moment in European construction may one day be considered positive and constructive. This will no doubt seem strange when the general view and states of mind are very much to the contrary. The truth is that some mistakes of the past have been discovered; the EU is in the process of correcting and eliminating them. However, a large number of commentators and observers - and a large section of public opinion - refuse to accept this.
A section of the European Parliament is endeavouring to make more of these past wrongs and to present them as current reality; these are above all political forces which are against European unity (and do not hide it). A clear majority of the Parliament is pushing in the opposite direction. The reception given by MEPs to the plan that Mr Juncker presented on Wednesday was eloquent; the positive phase has begun.
The Pope at the Parliament: of no significance. The speech by Pope Francis in Strasbourg will not go down in the annals of Europe. A few banalities such as “it's time to promote employment policies”, or the call for Europe not to look upon itself as the centre of the universe because it gives the “impression of weariness and ageing” and is now in an environment where it is regarded “with aloofness, mistrust and even suspicion”. Other rhetorical generalities were quoted in EUROPE 11204. The welcome given to the Pope by the president of the Parliament was respectful and the thanks from the political groups were just part of the required politeness.
The door to the EU closed for five years. Need any further reminder be given? No new accession to the EU will take place in the course of the next five years and the countries which knock at the door will have to have met all the criteria if they want their candidacies to be given consideration. This attitude would very probably not have won the support of the Pope but it is quite simply essential and imperative if we want the EU to continue to exist. How many times must it be repeated that the EU is a union of the countries which, last century, brought about two great wars? That they created a single whole so that conflict among them would be banished forever? Only those countries that have put an end to their conflicts can aspire to membership of this union. But none of the EU's neighbouring states currently meets that criterion. I am repeating myself, I fully realise, but even the Pope seems unaware that the EU has no intention of ever again voluntarily taking part in conflict. This five-year pause is a wise precaution.
Exiting conflicts. It is true that Europe has long been involved, to a more or less direct extent, in various conflicts but it is continuing - as the EU - to distance itself from fighting. National obligations remain, for example within the context of NATO. But EU involvement of a military nature consists of logistical support, such as participation in training and preparation in third countries or support in terms of advisers. In the case of the Israel-Palestine conflict, European texts are long and detailed but seek to encourage both sides to refrain from any act that could aggravate the situation and to refrain from the use of excessive force (does the adjective excessive mean that a certain level of force is acceptable?).
As for the countries that see themselves as candidates for accession, or which would like to be, like Georgia (signature with Brussels of an association agreement which is not yet in force), the watchword is caution. High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini has called on the authorities in Tbilisi to create a democratic, stable and prosperous country and to permit the existence of an opposition party. In exchange, the EU will recognise its European aspirations.
The Turkish fantasy continues but … It is difficult to understand how and why the fantasy of Turkish accession to the EU continues. It is to be wondered who, even on the Turkish side, believes it any more. President Erdogan is doing nothing to help accession. His recent stance on the role of women is more likely to discourage it. Women in Turkey and elsewhere give their responses on the internet. A few months ago, the deputy prime minister, Bulent Arino, called on women not to laugh in public. The response was wonderful: Twitter and Instagram were flooded with thousands of smiling women's faces.
The situation on the ground remains embarrassing, however: the World Economic Forum places Turkey in 120th place out of 136 countries on gender inequality.
Turkey is a great country and its role is important. Its place is not, however, in the EU.
(FR)