Some idea of future differences. The preparation of the formal declaration which the EU will approve in Berlin on 25 March to mark the 50th anniversary (half a century!) of the signing of the Treaty of Rome would seem to foreshadow the possible future divide between member states. In this column, I have spoken of the impression that there is currently an attempt to get beyond the current division between: a) those member states which have ratified the Constitutional Treaty and want to retain it as the basis of any future texts; b) those which rejected it by means of a referendum and intend to pare it down because they feel that they could not go through the process once again; and c) those which believe the text - which they signed, remember - to be dead in the water and which intend to have it replaced with something completely different.
These three positions are, in my opinion, irreconcilable, and can only lead, therefore, to deadlock. The attempt which I have noticed leaves all that has happened on ratification to one side and puts an end to dispute over the arrangements for an (illusory?) coming into force of the text as it is, by defining a project and a programme for the relaunch of European construction and integration, which would pick up the Constitutional Treaty's institutional innovations by bringing the EU back into working order, and which would make possible fundamental negotiation on the content of Community policies (and this includes their funding).
What transpires from the confidential negotiations being undertaken by the 27 member states on the draft “Berlin Declaration” will give a good idea of what will, in time, be the positions and differences of opinion on the spirit and nature of the relaunch of Community integration envisaged.
Clear differences of opinion. I have tried to set up a catalogue of my own invention, not having heard anything official, or even unofficial, of the most obvious differences of opinion among those responsible for preparing the draft:
1. Including the euro among Europe's great successes. Some member states would say it was absurd not to mention this key element in European integration. The United Kingdom, and it is not alone, believes the Berlin Declaration should mention achievements common to all member states; the euro is not common to all.
2. Mentioning the Schengen area. Several member states believe the removal of borders for those inside the EU to be a key achievement from both the practical and symbolic points of view for the Europe of citizens. The reasons for British reservations are the same as those mentioned in the previous point.
3. Reference to the Constitutional Treaty. It is easy to see the extent to which this is controversial. Allusion to the need for institutional reform could be a compromise.
4. Future enlargements. Here, it is the British who, along with a few other member states, would like to see an indication of willingness which others do not want to make general (even though they are not calling for “Europe's borders” to be spoken of in the text).
5. Reference to social Europe. Nine member states have requested that mention be made of the balance that is necessary between economic freedom and social rights (see EUROPE 9366), something the others feel to be out of place in this context.
6. “Christian values”. Poland and Ireland, in particular, want Christian values to be mentioned. Germany would appear also to be in favour, but in a form which speaks of respect for all beliefs.
Some Central and Eastern European countries have said that the text must not become a sort of glorification of the six founding countries.
It nonetheless appears unthinkable that there could be a fall out over a text that is supposed to celebrate an anniversary. To avoid a situation bordering on the absurd, the German presidency would appear to be talking about a very short text, to be drafted by a professional writer. Some observers feel that the discussions which are taking place “give a foretaste” of the much more decisive debates to come in June on the “roadmap” for relaunching European integration.
(F.R.)