Our bulletin welcomes the award of the Charlemagne Prize to Jean-Claude Juncker, first of all by summarising the specific homage paid by Jacques Delors (bulletin 9198) and then by more broadly taking into account the ceremony at Aix-la-Chappelle (bulletin 9200). I'll return to this and invite those who got distracted by the Pentecost festivities to read the above-mentioned texts, and to add three more lessons from Mr Juncker to it, which to me appear particularly relevant even though they preceded the Aix-la-Chapelle ceremony.
Taking action. Current modes dictate that the undeniable and obvious detachment of public opinion from European construction, should be accepted. The most recent polls indicate that even the advantages of participating in the Union are currently being questioned by a significant percentage of citizens! I consider that resignation in the face of this development is shameful. Mr Juncker has been one of the first and still rare figures to vigorously respond to this situation. I'll quote him on the subject, “Our generation is the last one able to make the European process irreversible, simply because it is heir to the collective memory of the last world war. This will no longer be true for those governing in 2030. I would like to point out to those who claim that yesterday's conflicts can never occur again, that barely ten years ago the Balkans were at war: concentration camps, murder and rape. Only the idea of a placatory Europe can guarantee that this will not be repeated”. Mr Juncker also defends, with conviction, the economic, social and cultural results of European construction. In Aix-la-Chapelle, he vigorously illustrated the advantages of the Euro (so stupidly criticised by ignoramuses), protecting Europe against global financial crises and which put an end to the wave of devaluations that previously poisoned the Community. On another occasion he said, “Without the Euro, we would have an incessant ballet of devaluations and, undoubtedly, more unemployed”.
His lesson is that there should not just be a defence of the Community acquis but that we should also be proud of them. Let's not forget how many people risk their lives every day to step foot in Europe, that Europe is the place where the majority of women in the world would like to live and that the main aspiration of countries neighbouring the EU is to join it. Certainly, we have to take into account the criticism and correct shortcomings and mistakes but without losing what is essential. I share Sylvie Goulard's view, “Let's not jettison European unity because one generation didn't believe in it”. It is quite understood that that the EU is not forcing anyone to stay in it who doesn't want to be in - they can leave tomorrow or not pursue accession, if they have not yet joined.
The European Constitution and the institutions. Mr Juncker's support for the Constitutional Treaty has been borne out with deeds: he is the only Head of government who dared to organise a national referendum a few weeks after the “no” votes in France and the Netherlands, just at the moment when scepticism was at its high-point and in which, according to Jacques Delors, he “put all his weigh on the scales” to obtain ratification by putting it to the vote. But he is in no way a pro-European demagogue. Helmut Kohl described him as a “realistic optimist”. He is opposed to Europe taking on too much and he does not believe in the American model: “We do not want to create the United States of Europe because citizens do not understand this notion and want to keep hold of their national reference points”. He is not necessarily enthused by the institutional innovations of the Constitutional treaty either. His name was mentioned on several occasions as a possible permanent president of the Summit but he doesn't believe in the utility of the role, “I was one of the few to oppose the setting up of this post in the Constitutional project. It is not an interesting post, contrary to that of the president of the Commission”. It would be interesting to expand on these reasons.
Safeguarding agriculture. Mr Juncker pointed out on several occasions that during the 1950s, Europe was dependant on agricultural imports for feeding its people. The agricultural policy then brought abundance and food security. This policy has been subject to a timely revision: threatening its existence would “be the biggest delocalisation ever experienced by Europe”. Delocalisation in the sense of transferring a vital activity elsewhere. Mr Juncker added, “the consequences would be dramatic. I will do all I can to scupper such a reform that is bent on destroying the CAP”.
I won't be coming back to what he said on Turkey's accession prospects because I've been underlining them over recent days.
(F.R.)