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Living Europe from within. The speech that the President of the European Commission made before the European Parliament on 3 October represents one of the elements of change in climate perceived in the broad debate on Europe's future. And at the same time it presents a turning point in the thoughts and attitude of Romano Prodi. Once again, the fact of "living the EU" from within (in this case, with the highest of responsibilities) has had salutary, spectacular even, therapeutic effects. Some directions or measures that Prodi had accepted, wanted even, at the time he was Head of Government, he sees in them today dangers and weaknesses. Suffice it to note the firmness with which he urges one to consider as provisional the system of High Representative for foreign and security policy: "a transitional phase intended to enter into the ordinary institutional bosom," so as to eliminate the "confusion of roles between the Council and Commission", he said. Or seeing with what clarity he rejects the idea of another High Representative for economic policy, and demands this role for the Commission; "simple, natural and effective" solution and in compliance with the Treaty.

The role we expected of him. When the Heads of Government appointed him to preside over the Commission their intention was obvious: to choose someone belonging to their very selective club, or who had belonged until some months previously. In preparing himself for his new responsibilities, Romano Prodi played the role expected of him, and had devised and prepared his reforms in his national offices, with his usual collaborators, without taking account of the reality of Brussels. He had taken seriously what some of the press, especially British, presented of Eurocracy, as a machine rotten from within, ineffective and riddles with sclerosis. He may have changed his mind somewhat today, just as maybe he is beginning to suspect that part of the press over the Channel, admirable from a national standpoint, is not necessarily the most reliable and impartial mirror that Europe has, of the way it functions, its aspirations or ambitions. Through that press some "warnings" have been sent out by such or such a national government (not necessarily London's) for the attention of the Comission's President, when taking his first steps to act, taking initiatives. "Sutor, ne ultra crepidam" (Cobbler, not above the shoe), hinting at certain announcements of his departure, certain ridiculously excessive school reports…

For the EU, the purely intergovernmental system is undemocratic and ineffective. For his part, Romano Prodi spoke of a year of reflection and caution. Reading his speech in Strasbourg, we note that the Prodi of today:

a) considers "enhanced cooperation" as an "instrument of integration (…) no one must prevent a group of States achieve a closer Union than the treaties expressly provide for";

b) bluntly states the primacy of the "Community method", which, "articulated around the institutional triangle Council, Parliament, Commission, has been extraordinarily successful". The Commission in particular is described as a place where the synthesis of, often contradictory, national interests is achieved, and where the common European interest is defined, "independent body but attentive to the balance and interests of all member countries, large and small, necessary condition to place sovereignties in common in the Community".

c) denounces the "worrying tendencies to believe that European construction may continue setting out from methods based mainly on direct collaboration between governments". The intergovernmental method is undemocratic (read the demonstration of this in the full text of the speech) and especially ineffective: "achievements like the single market, common policies, mechanisms of solidarity and strength that provide Europe with its single voice in international negotiations would be seriously threatened." And again: "if we do not ensure that the key-elements of the institutional architecture invented and achieved by the founding fathers are not protected, we shall assist in the annihilation of certain achievements that today we take for granted". And it is here that we must situate the aforementioned remarks of the position of High Representative.

This will not make life any easy for him, but… the speech in Strasbourg has the precision and vigour of one who believes in what he says and who is speaking after having thought things through. Romano Prodi did not hesitate to respond indirectly to some claims by one or another Head of Government or Foreign Minister. This will not make his life any easier. But he has to know just how much his new attitude has received approval and backing by all those who believe in the blossoming of Europe, its culture, its potentials, its future. Nobody is unaware of the predominant role of governments (and the Heads of Government themselves), nobody disputes the significance of our nations, at times thousands of years old - but in the respect of the institutional balance that has allowed the EU to be built as it is. Having understood this and said so, Romano Prodi will never be alone, in Brussels, as he thought he had become only a few months back.

Ferdinando Riccardi