Reasons for the proposed campaign. We could still gloss over the Bruges speech of the President of the Convention and go beyond what I've already said in the last two "short accounts". I'll limit myself to my astonishment at the surprise of certain observers at the importance of what the President attributed to the choice of name for the rebranded Europe. Among the four suggestions he put four forward are: the European Community, European Union, United Europe and the United States of Europe. He took this enthusiasm as far as providing the English translation of these four names and someone did detect a certain ingenuity in his approach. Ingenuity? Whatever next! I don't think this is the right term for describing Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. Let's say, rather, that in the launch of this campaign he can see a way of getting the Convention spoken about and of interesting a sizeable part of the public, which is unable to get fired up by subsidiarity, the legal personality of the EU or quarrels about "methods". The President stated, "This is not trivial issue, for the name has a symbolic force, making clear to every citizen the nature and thrust of the European project. It would be interesting to find out what the people of Europe, in particular the young people, feel about the issue, before it is discussed by the Convention".
Press reaction appears to suggest that he was right. The question of a name was the most quoted aspect of his Bruges speech. In the light of which, it is natural that he followed this up by encouraging the media to interview their readers or audiences on the question.
A few words can say a lot. Valéry Giscard d'Estaing also spoke in locations other than Bruges. A few words from him has meant far more than making a long declaration:
a) On the objective of the Intergovernmental Conference, which will follow the Convention. The President declared to the "Financial Times", "If the work has been sufficiently perfected, four or five meetings of Prime Ministers or Foreign Secretaries should be able to finish things off…But not a big diplomatic debate reopening things". This sentence enables us to measures the scale of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing's ambitions for the Convention - the interinstitutional treaty will form the project of the latter, much more so than negotiations between Government Heads.
b) On his personal participation in the IGC. Asked about the EP's constitutional committee, the President's reply to MEPs was that, "I am glad that you asked me that". A dignified response of its kind and skilful given the background because it asks for nothing and leaves everything open:
c) On the possibility of he himself becoming the "President of Europe". He also informed the "Financial Times", "No, it's impossible, my age will prevent me". Then with a humouristic aside, "Unless there is a dramatic advance in medical science";
d) On the strengthening of the economic angle of the EMU (Economic and Monetary Union). According to the "Financial Times", Valéry Giscard d'Estaing does not support the European Commission proposals for strengthening the co-ordination of economic policies of Member States (see this section on 25 September). The newspaper, nevertheless, does not quote any firm or clear assertion on this subject, just a sentence indicating that the current method of co-ordination could be extended to new Member States which join the monetary union (also outlining that the Convention has not yet dealt with the matter).
Clever use of interviews. Point d) introduces us to a rather hazy area, with regard to what was really said in the interview is unclear, as the ideas are mixed up with the ideas of the journalist and are sometimes a little forced. The journalist claims, "Giscard d'Estaing said he had little sympathy with proposals from the European Commission that it should have more power in key areas such as the economy and foreign affairs". I would have preferred to have seen the President's views on this subject in quotation marks, even more so given that in quotation marks on another occasion he says, "the driving force depends on the subject. It's the Commission in the clearly communautaire subjects, but it's the Council for all the big changes in the Union and for defence and foreign affairs". This was the same for the headline of the front page, "Giscard urges halt to federalism" - whereas the word federalism is not present anywhere in his statements.
The reader should not get worried, Agence EUROPE never mixes the text with the commentary. In the accounts of the Bruges speech, the President's sentences are quoted word for word and put in between quotation marks. The integral part of the speech has been sent off at the same time to those subscribed to our bulletin (in French or the official English version). Commentaries have been added to it and the reader can make of it what he will. (F.R.)