The experts have reassured me that as long as it is still January, there is still time to award prizes for last year. Here I am then, suggesting a second series of European prizes for 2002 following the prise-giving published in this section on 11 January. The three new prizes have a common characteristic: they are awarded to French writers that wrote specific articles on Europe. The jury has awarded, without any recourse to appeal, the following European prizes:
1. Prize for lucidity to Pascal Bruckner, Writer and essayist for the article published in the daily (of the Left) "Liberation" on 2 December 2002. The reason is for the following passages, (which he's not obliged to share 100%): "For half a century, Europe has experienced regrettable torments. Reflecting on its past crimes, imperialism, fascism, Stalinism, it can see in its long history nothing but a continuity of killings and pillaging that finished up in two world conflicts. The average European man or woman is a being of extreme sensitiveness, forever lamenting the unhappiness of the world and blaming themselves for it…There is no doubt about it: the same reasoning would have prevailed if the terrorists had destroyed the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame: they hit us and therefore we are guilty… Europe has certainly created monsters; in the same way it has given birth to theories that enable the monsters to be slain…Colonialist adventure died from this fundamental contradiction: subjecting the continents to the law of the mainland that inculcated into them the national ideal and the right of peoples to liberation…We would be compelled to expiate our sins ad infinitum. Witness the wave of repentance that, like an epidemic is sweeping over lands, and above all through the principles of the Church…How can we explain how so many people want to become European and join us?…European democracy has become an area of great diversity, where we live well, flourish and if possible, prosper, in the vicinity of cultural works of art…This result is not enough. We must find a historic vocation that is worthy of our prosperity…We must find our civilising capabilities and self-esteem or we will be enslaved of our own volition and our shared house will be reduced to a luxury holiday camp, always ready to abdicate its freedom for a bit more calm and comfort".
2. Flaubert Prize ("dictionary of received ideas" section) to Maurice Druon, from the French Academy for his article, "Europe a Market or a Power?" published in "Le Figaro" on 16 December 2002. In it we learn, "The Commission of Brussels lacking instructions from an executive power and being controlled by itself is continually swelling up and grabbing all the competencies within its reach…No brakes or markers, it has become plethoric: almost 50,000 officials. Years ago the Commission began annoying different industries with its insufferable directives and sometimes mad minutiae. Decisions on the length of cherry stems, the Commission is going to push all European countries into producing consumer goods that are practically identical. In addition to this, the same spirit exists and guides negotiations". We could be led to believe that this was a spiritual satyr spouting common places about the Brussels bureaucracy. It is unfortunate that our "Member of the Academy" wrote this in complete seriousness. This prize therefore is his by rights.
3. Prize for humour for Patrick Besson, Novelist and essayist for his article on future Union enlargement published in the first edition of the "Salamandra" magazine. He informs us that the European Commission met up for "eighteen months" to examine eight new candidacies for accession. The first country, Tasmania, "the complete relativity of the geographical distance is not questioned but the Commission has decided that this is not important for joining the Union and has the right to be considered on other criteria. The Kerguelen Islands can join because of their French-speaking past. Chile poses a problem because Pinochet is still at large, which "the Spanish authorities find extremely unacceptable". "All our European partners across the Atlantic must understand that Europe in the broadest sense of the word (already consisting of 101 countries) is a democratic entity that cannot sanction exceptions to the rule". The islands of Fiji can b accepted with the Commission's approval, thanks to their beaches which have been certified by the Europe-Pacific Ecological Committee. Greenland is of course European, but subsidies to its farmers risk being too expensive. The Colombians speak Spanish; proof of their European character but the cocaine problem presents some difficulties. Liberia is closer to Brussels than Fiji but the state of its economy is deplorable. Kuwait will join because "it has always been, as it is now and always will be, European", as well as the proof of the war that the USA and Europe waged together to "save their invaded European friend".
(F.R.)