Berlin, 14/09/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Ideas Fair in Berlin on 10-11 September (organised by the EPP-ED group of the European Parliament on the initiative of British Conservative James Elles) reached a series of conclusions in ten working groups which James Elles had asked to 'think the unthinkable'. The working groups have produced a document outlining their ideas, with a picture of Rodin's 'The Thinker' (Le Penseur), looking at the following topics:
1) The private sector in public services. This working group says that both equity and quality must be pursued and the social dimension of public services addressed (meaning that vulnerable segments and public goods must be protected in liberalised markets). The economic dimension must also be addressed, with private investment being required in both health and education. Strong, independent national regulatory authorities must be established in relevant sectors.
2) Sustainable farming and food safety. The working group looked at CAP reform, calling for greater funding for rural development to help the changing rural demographics. The group says the first stage of CAP reform is complete, but more will be required. There are 'genuine reasons behind WTO demands for trade liberalisation' but 'trade liberalisation will lead to increased market volatility and a negative impact on food safety control'. 'Long term food security must be addressed,' and 'the precautionary principle is over-employed and is restricting entrepreneurship'. 'Sustainable management of water is potentially the biggest issue for the EU' with regard to sustainability.
3) EMU and financial affairs. The working group criticised the European Commission's proposals to reform the Stability Pact for making too many concessions, but notes 'there is a case for amending the Maastricht Treaty' criteria for new EU Member States seeking to join the euro, especially on inflation'. 'In the field of taxation, competition is preferable to harmonisation'. 'A clearer definition of subsidiary is required… in particularly with respect to what are, and what are not, European public goods.'
4) Security and defence. There is 'weak EU longer term focus', with a 'lack of unified longer term defence planning'. There is a 'weak external/internal interface' ('homeland security link to CFSP/ESDP; Turkey's EU membership (geostrategic versus economic/social integration aspects)'. 'Asymmetry of US/European military power'. 'Addressing common threats' like WMD proliferation, terrorism and geographical scope of CFSP).
5) Demographic change and immigration. The working group looked at how to address the 'depopulation' explosion in Europe, saying that 'combined solutions are needed and 'discussion can no longer be confined to the consequences of an ageing society for social security systems'. 'We need to reconcile family and professional life in order to increase both the participation of women in the labour market and birth rates. Several country experiences suggest that both higher birth rates and high employment of women are simultaneously possible'. EU immigration policy must evolve, but 'immigration if clearly no 'magic bullet' solution.
6) Globalisation. 'The EU risks losing out from globalisation if it does not speedily improve its international competitiveness… Politicians must explain better to European citizens that globalisation eventually is a chance and not a threat'. Emergence of the G20: will 'Brazil, China and India become a new bloc to compete with the EU and the US?' 'It is doubtful whether the creation of a 'global governmental framework to harness globalisation' is possible and meaningful.' (See Edouard Balladur's ideas in Europe of 14 September, p. 8.) Better co-ordination and clearer division of responsibilities between international organisations is required.
7) Job creation in Europe. On the Lisbon agenda, 'set clear targets, especially for social provisions, which are dynamic, challenging, but achievable'. 'Refine the European Social Model to allow for growth. Question and revisit the role of the social partners.' 'Identify which regulations to cut'.
8) Democracy in the EU. National parliaments should be much more engaged with regard to European issues. The draft constitution 'should not be presented as something radically new that would drastically change the legal status of the EU…Declaring that once ratified, the European constitution will not be changed for the next fifty years, might be a daring prediction that could also put many people off.'
9) Terrorism and Internal Security. 'The West must stand together - and it surely will'. 'The EU must invest more in its own security. The EPP-ED Group should propose a '9/11 Commission' in the EP to 'examine and overhaul' current EU practice'. The working group's conclusions note that some of its members believe the answer lies with the nation state, while others feel that 'a European driver is necessary'.
10) Environmental and ecological challenges. The working group makes a series of warnings. ''Environmental policies should be rebalanced towards individual and community responsibility'. The 'precautionary principle has been damaging because it has too often ignored the principle of proportionality'. 'The Kyoto targets are worthy, as is the concept of emission trading. In reality, however, it could cost a lot to European countries for a small environmental gain'. 'The nuclear option may be inevitable'. 'Centre-right political tradition has produced more action to protect our environment than socialist and green parties'. 'Industry needs to put over its positive case (pharmaceutical chemicals…) and not apologise for largely overestimated risks'. 'Coining a new concept of environmentalism and discarding some of its green/socialist terminology… Symbolic of this is the need to find a better generic term than US 'Free Market Environmentalism".'