Brussels, 23/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - As announced earlier (EUROPE 9391), the German EU Council presidency forwarded its final version of the “Berlin Declaration” to the member states on Thursday evening. The Declaration will be signed on Sunday 25 March in Berlin during the informal meeting of EU heads of state and government on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome by the presidents of the three Community institutions: - Angela Merkel (Council), José Manuel Barroso (Commission) and Hans-Gert Pöttering (European Parliament). The text is no longer challenged by any of the delegations since the Czech Republic lifted its last reservations on Friday, mainly on the 2009 deadline included in the text, to complete and implement EU reform. On Friday morning, Chancellor Angela Merkel held telephone conversations with President Vaclav Klaus and Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, who were still sticking to their objections to the 2009 deadline on Thursday, as the first half of 2009 will be when the country holds the EU presidency. During these conversations, Czech objections were lifted, German sources say.
Published in the 23 official languages of the EU, the declaration is drafted in simple terms, written from the point of view of European citizens (most sentences beginning with “we”). The text begins by hailing the major historical achievements of European unification (peace, prosperity, unity, and the overcoming of differences) to which all member states have contributed. A direct reference is made to the peoples of the new Central and Eastern European member states, saying it is their determination to be free that has allowed an end to be put to the artificial division of Europe. “We”, the citizens of Europe, have drawn lessons from history and from bloody conflicts, and, today, we have the “joy” of living together as was never possible before, the declaration states. There is then a reminder of the main shared values and ideals of the Union: - dignity of individuals, respect and defence of fundamental rights, freedom, democracy, respect, tolerance, security, justice, solidarity, etc. The European Union is a “unique” democratic body of member states and European institutions, based on equality and solidarity, defending a fair balance between the interests of the member states, the declaration points out. The European Union is faced with many challenges that do not stop at national borders. “Our” response to such challenges is the European Union, the text points out, as it is only by acting together that we can safeguard our “ideal of European society”. The European model is made up of economic success and social responsibility, it stresses. The internal market and single currency strengthen the Union, which will allow it to influence globalisation according to its own ideals and values. The fight against terrorism and organised crime is another challenge facing the Union but this fight must be carried out in respect of citizens' rights and freedoms. At the international level, the Union defends freedom and development and action against poverty, hunger and disease. At this level, it must keep its role as leader, the declaration states. “We” also want to act together with regard to energy policy and in the fight against climate change, it is written.
No explicit reference is made to future enlargements, but the declaration reaffirms the “opening” of the EU while at the same time stressing the “resolve” of member states to stabilise and consolidate integration.
The future of the Constitutional Treaty is not mentioned in the text which simply underlines the need for permanent reform of the Union. It goes on to conclude with a commitment, the aim being to “renew the Union's collective commitment” by 2009.
The fact that the Declaration will be signed only by the three presidents, and not by all the heads of state and government, does not make the text any less important, it was pointed out by the German presidency. With their signature, the presidents politically commit their respective institutions in favour of the principles and objectives described in the text, including that of reforming the Union by 2009, presidency sources explained on Friday. They recall in this context that only the legally binding international agreements (like the Treaties) require the signature of all heads of state and government. On the other hand, other texts, ,like the Charter of Fundamental Rights, were only signed by the presidents of the Community institutions, while others still, like the Laeken Declaration of December 2001 were adopted by acclamation only.
The signing of the Declaration will be preceded during the morning by a ceremony (attended by Maurice Faure of France, the sole remaining signatory of the 1957 text) and speeches by the three presidents, Merkel, Barroso and Pöttering, as well as the Italian prime minister, Romano Prodi, whom Ms Merkel asked to speak of the various historical stages of European integration since 1957 (as a “visible reference” to Italy and Rome as a place where the Treaties were signed 50 years ago, the German presidency stressed).
The ceremony will be followed on Sunday afternoon with a working lunch during which the question of preparing the June Council and the role of the EU in the world will be raised. It will also provide an opportunity for Angela Merkel to pay homage to Jacques Chirac's European commitment and who will be attending his last European summit. On Saturday, the informal Head of State and Government meeting will be opened at the beginning of the evening with a concert by the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra, followed by dinner with the German president, Horst Köhler.
The president refutes criticism of his working method and announces that she will follow
the same approach for preparing the June European Council on the Constitution
On Friday the German presidency refuted to the press, the swathe of criticism made over recent weeks, notably from MEPs, on the working method, sometimes described as “secretive”, that it used for preparing the draft of the Berlin Declaration. These mainly involved consultations in very restricted groups, at a “Sherpa” level, with representatives appointed by member states, the Commission and EP. The presidency underlined that, “We have had a lot of discussions in Berlin and elsewhere” as well as a two hour debate at the highest level during the European Council on 8 March. The presidency explained that there could not therefore be any question of a secret method, affirming, “the very large majority of member states, as well as representatives from the European Commission and Parliament have explicitly welcomed this way of working”. Reassured by this success, the presidency announced that it would now follow the same method for preparing the difficult discussions at the June European Council on the Constitutional question. Sources affirmed on Friday that, “this procedure will be pursued for the rest of our presidency” and, “the real consultations will not begin until after the presidential elections in France”. (hb)