Brussels, 09/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - On the sidelines of the conference on participatory democracy organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (see EUROPE of 18 February, p.18), the former President of the European Commission, Jacques Delors, and former Polish Foreign Minister Bronislav Geremek answered reporters' questions in the presence of EESC President Roger Briesch, Chair of Slovenia's Committee on European Affairs and former Convention Member Alojz Peterle, and the Chairman of the Irish Economic and Social Committee, Dermot McCarthy. They discussed:
1) The division between large and small Member States over replacing Mr Solans at the ECB Executive Board (see p.6). Mr Delors said: "We are in an economic situation marked by the difficulty of understanding between Member States (…). Nothing has been done to calm things down and it is therefore normal for there to be a coalition of certain countries against others for a post at the ECB. This will continue to be the case until the Irish Presidency and the Commission act as mediator to calm people's minds". In his view, there must be a "climate of receptiveness, there must be optimism and rekindling on a good base". Bronislav Geremek noted that there has been a "certain antagonism between large and small Member States since the beginning of the integration process" and that what we are now seeing is a return to the "policy of hegemony, with the intergovernmental method taking primacy over the Community method"; 2) The Fifteen's reticence about opening up their labour markets to the nationals of the future Member States. Mr Delors notes that there is a "fantasy over immigration, kept afloat by the media". He went on to explain: "But one must not forget that there are qualified people who do not wish to work in their own countries any longer and who therefore come to us, and who are no longer united with their own folks!". "Aren't European countries aware of the fact that they need immigration?", Mr Geremek asked, saying he would not like the "Polish to leave their country". He went on to add: "Nearly all EU countries need this immigration, so why rule out those who come from Slovakia, from Poland, etc.?"; 3) The likelihood of bringing the debate on the European Constitution out of stalemate. Mr Delors repeated that "in the great family of 25, skin has become redder. There are phrases pronounced but not forgotten. We must calm people down. The state of mind is essential in a 25-member family (…). We need a soothing lotion. There are no small countries in the European family". Mr Geremek was of the view that "when there is a problem, it either takes an effort to overcome it, or a miracle. And it is a miracle that is needed for the Constitution". He feels that "this miracle is possible under Irish Presidency"; 4) Placing a 1% of GDP ceiling on the EU budget. This idea is "ridiculous", Mr Delors said, noting that it is economic and social cohesion that is targeted. "If one says 1%, then structural policy is sabotaged, after so many years of work! It would mean breaking up one of the elements of European citizenship. I% is quite simply scandalous", Mr Delors said; 5) For or against the two-speed Europe? This is a hypothesis that Mr Delors said he has "always rejected" although he noted that Europe has moved forward in differentiation. This differentiation, however, must come within the context of the Constitution, he said, adding: "I am an active pessimist. We are in a situation where no-one agrees on anything, where we have a large free trade area on one hand and large powers nostalgic about the past on the other!"; 6) The number of Commissioners in the new Commission. "I agree entirely with Romano Prodi, who is in favour of a 25-member Commission. The presence of Commissioners from the new Members is a possibility for them to learn about the decision-making process in Europe", Mr Delors commented. He went on to conclude: "I hope the future Commission President has a spirit of receptiveness and will be at the service of the Member States as, the more you are at their service, the more you have the possibility of proposing new ideas".