Brussels, 07/07/200 (Agence Europe) - In his speech on the future of Europe on Wednesday afternoon at the European University Institute of Florence, Karel de Gucht, the Belgian Foreign Minister, made it clear that he still believes in the constitutional treaty. Even though recent events in France and the Netherlands constitute "serious knock backs" for the European draft, we should not forget, the Minister said, that "11 member states have already ratified the text". Stating that the treaty is far from perfect, it is nonetheless "the fruit of a compromise it (...). It is the only valid response to the need to go further with the European project". In the view of Karel de Gucht, the prospect of a possible ratification of the text by all 25 Member States must still be borne in mind. But this potential second round of consultations should first of all wait for the end of the ratification process in all the countries of the Union, and the results of the French and German presidential elections planned for 2007.
The Minister added that there is "no point in resigning oneself and cancelling the new treaty on the grounds that there is no solid alternative". On the contrary, he urges the European Commission, assisted by the various governments, rapidly to set up " a concrete action plan with an agenda covering the next 24 months, and relating to all key points which have not yet been cleared up in all major political areas of the European Union". Fighting for the survival of the draft European Constitution, Karel De Gucht recommends a course of pragmatism. The key points of this package, on which the European Union must keep up its efforts and give the citizens a new confidence, are the economic and monetary union (including social cohesion and tax rules), and research and development, the trans-European networks, environmental problems, justice and security, the common defence policy and external policy. "The sectors included in these categories are absolutely vital for the well-being of current and future generations of European citizens".
The Minister added that the use of "reinforced co-operation" was a good means of making progress in this direction. Nonetheless, these must remain within the framework of the constitutional treaty. Setting up "sub-groups" of countries which want to go forward may certainly "provide a certain amount of psychological comfort", but this cannot be "the first option to be envisaged in order to break the current deadlock, at least during the next two years", he continued.