Luxembourg, 19/10/2005 (Agence Europe) - During an informal meeting on 18 October at the Bourlingster Castle in Luxembourg at the personal initiative of Nicolas Schmit, Luxembourg Deputy Foreign Minister, the former president of the European Commission, Jacques Delors, European Social Affairs Commissioner Vladimir Spidla, European Parliament President Josep Borrell, MEPs Jo Leinen and Robert Goebbels and the general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, John Monks, discussed the prospects of the European Social Model and the future of Europe, mainly with a view to the summit at Hampton Court on 27 October. It was mainly a matter of discussing the aim of European integration at a time when the European Social Model is challenged by some as they face the challenges of globalisation, the Luxembourg minister told several journalists. He said this very free exchange of views was to verify how to launch the European project, recognising that the economic and social model can be renewed but stressing that one should not lose sight of the “political project”. One must avoid simplistic “confrontation” between the Anglo-Saxon model and the continental model, Mr Schmit said, stressing the need to enhance the economic and social dimension of the euro zone. The Eurogroup - presided during two years by the prime minister and the Luxembourg finance minister, Jean-Claude Juncker - should be able to better coordinate the economic policies of the euro zone, he commented, recalling that this is an idea that President Delors holds dear. It would contribute to increasing the euro zone's credibility, Nicolas Schmit noted, adding that an agreement on the financial perspectives 2007-2013 by the end of the year is “indispensable” as it will be a powerful message to citizens on the EU's capacity to “break the deadlock” over the European Constitution, as well as being an important message to new Member States. The latter have “much to gain from the financial perspectives” and “we all have something to gain”, he stressed. While admitting no agreement has been reached on figures, Mr Schmit considers it important to have “political resolve to reach an agreement” on the financial perspectives, and considers that the final agreement will not be very far from the proposals of the Luxembourg presidency end June. Mr Schmit said it is a mistake to consider the Constitution is now “dead”, as some would like, although he recognises that resumption of the process interrupted by the French and Dutch “no” votes depends on “national timetables” (Ed.: national elections).
Speaking to the press, Jacques Delors welcomed the opportunity of having a “very constructive, frank and abrupt” debate between “Social Democrat officials” on the European social and economic model, a debate that should result in reflection on the “political and institutional future of Europe”. According to the former president of the European Commission, this “well prepares the ground for reflection of the Party of European Socialists and for EU government officials”. In answer to questions on the European Social Model, Jacques Delors, who had introduced the discussion at Bourlingster Castle, recognised that there are several European economic and social models. He recalled, however, that “without being to the detriment” of any one variant of the model, there is a general characteristic which is that of “balance between society and individual”, the fact that one refuses to allow “society to stifle or crush the individual”. This model is “founded on a double compromise” between “public power and the market, capital and labour”. In his view, it is therefore necessary to “strike a new balance between the social and economic aspects, while remaining true to one's values”. Speaking of the European Constitution, Mr Delors felt that the “ratification process should continue in full respect of the European family, it being a question of common morals”. At the end of the process, the governments will meet, as planned, to “draw the conclusions of this period of consultation”. Without wishing to delay matters by looking at the situation in France, Jacques Delors added that “as a French citizen” he has noted the decision taken by his country, and as a European activist he believes ratification should continue. Why have the borders of Europe not been set in stone? To this question, Mr Delors answered: “It was a wise decision”. “As a European, I had an idea of Europe”, he said, recalling that, since the creation of the six-member Europe, “history has knocked at the door” on several occasions (the Community door and then that of the EU). Those knocking were hesitant countries like the United Kingdom (which entered the EC with Ireland and Denmark), countries that had just come out of dictatorship (Greece, Spain and Portugal), those initially hostile to integration and the free trade zone countries, and then “history was turned upside down” with the fall of the Berlin Wall. “Europe, in its generosity and power, is not able to explain such things”, Mr Delors regretted, saying: “There are people who know what the borders of Europe are (…). During August, I read three thousand pages on the subject (…). In my view, Europe must remain what it is in the knowledge that we must go on facing the challenges of history”.