Italy has formally taken its stance on relaunching Europe. The format of its plan is simple: a swift institutional agreement followed by “new impetus” for the process of integration. At first sight, this appears to be not too far removed from what France put forward, with its two stages: firstly, get the institutional machine back working properly and then discuss, together, the content of European policies. The difference, however, is substantial, because Italy has already set out its position on and its expectations of these policies, and it goes very far, without excluding the possibility of a several speed Europe, if necessary.
Mr D'Alema's vision. It was Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema who set out Italy's position on Monday evening, at a conference organised by the Institute of European Studies at the Université libre de Bruxelles, chaired by Mario Telo, and by the GRE (Gauche réformiste européenne - Reforming European Left), chaired by Bruno Liebhaberg. Mr D'Alema was speaking on behalf of the Prodi government, in which he is deputy prime minister. For Italy:
1. A constitutional agreement is essential but not enough in itself to revive Europe. The institutions are not an end in themselves, but they are the essential instrument if results are to be achieved. By spring 2009, before the European elections and the change of Commission, there has to be an agreement which protects the fundamental elements of the Constitutional Treaty, something which would involve in particular: a) a minister of foreign affairs, who would chair the Council and be part of the Commission; b) a non-rotating president of the European Council; c) the extension of majority voting based on double majority (states and population); d) the possibility of “using enhanced cooperation and other forms of differentiation” to ensure the dynamism of the process of integration. In addition, the Charter of Fundamental Rights should have “binding” legal force”.
2. The plan for a “global Europe” has to be drawn up, in order to “give fresh impetus to the process of integration”, including an “explicit decision of external borders, and a much faster review of policies and financial resources, which must be able to meet global challenges”.
Mr D'Alema spoke at length about the Italian vision of this global Europe. No individual member state can meet the new challenges. The examples of trade and currency, which are managed in common, should be extended to other essential areas, such as energy, climate, security. At the same time, Europe must give member states and regional and local authorities the ability to act when European regulation is excessive. With regard to external borders, these should include the Balkans and “possibly” Turkey, whose “inclusion suits our interests”. After this, “enlargement should stop, or at least be suspended, because the European identity needs clear borders” and “more credible” neighbourhood policies with Russia, Ukraine, the former Soviet Union countries and the eastern Mediterranean should be developed.
Possibility of small European groups. This vision could result in “a Europe of joint rules and the internal market, which will be the same as the enlarged area; and at the same time we will have smaller European groups, as we already have with the euro”. Mr D'Alema devoted a lot of time to developing arguments on social Europe (the aim is not a single social model, but a European social area, with common principles and a common immigration policy) and to foreign policy (including energy and environmental security) and defence.
In the world of the future, Europe will continue to exist only if it is united. No individual European country will be part of tomorrow's new G7. Mr D'Alema concluded, “I am not pessimistic about Europe's future, because I believe that after the traumas and divisions of the last few years, there is far greater awareness of what is at stake: European unity is our response to global challenges”.
The driving force is already there. Responding to a question on what Europe's driving force could be, taking in the direction it wants to go, Mr D'Alema answered: “Today, the driving force is the group of countries which have ratified the constitutional treaty, a substantial majority of states and citizens. We must keep as much as possible of this treaty. If it falls, the victor will be full liberalism: the market will win and the rest fall apart”.
Overall, the Italian position in no way corresponds to the positions of other member states, which believe the constitutional treaty to be dead. It is in such differences of opinion that the whole difficulty of relaunching Europe resides.
(F.R.)
Plenary session of the European Parliament