Freedom of choice. Faced with the obstacles still hampering the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the season of concessions and compromises ought to be over. This season has been extended over several years, and since the creation of the Convention we've been doing nothing but negotiating, discussing together and taking into account the positions, objections, and reservations of everyone else. The draft constitutional treaty was rejected in two member states and the contested aspects of it were taken out. Several pro-Europeans believe that we went too far in making concessions but ultimately, the result, the Lisbon Treaty, was supported by all member states, approved by the European Parliament and ratified by all the national parliaments to which it was submitted. The result of the referendum in Ireland was a “no” vote for reasons that had nothing to do with the contents of the treaty and the Irish will have their say again after the misunderstandings have been ironed out (see this column yesterday). There is nothing left to negotiate and no place left for other compromises. What now needs to be done is to find out who agrees and who doesn't.
There is total freedom of choice for everyone: European integration is not being imposed on anyone. The governments that gave their support to the Lisbon Treaty are all legitimate governments, they were all voted for by universal suffrage. If a country changes its mind, it has the right to do so. The Eurosceptics are organised at a European level and will be represented at the European Parliament (to hear them, you would think they are even aiming to get a majority). If they do obtain a majority in a member state, this state will be free to make its choice: leave the EU (this option is explicitly recognised under the Lisbon Treaty) or stay but not participate in the deepening integration process which most member states consider indispensable. There will be nothing new in these developments. In the beginning, there were only six member states; other countries that were invited chose not to take part in the adventure before changing their opinions over the years. The Norwegian people still reject joining and the Swiss preferred gradual sectoral cooperation, which does not rule out deepened and effective partnerships with both countries. Within the EU itself, certain fundamental achievements, such as the single currency and getting rid of border controls were put into practice in all member states taking part in the projects. Today, however, it would be unacceptable for an isolated “no” vote to definitively block the integration process decided in common after lengthy negotiations.
Stakes at play. There is a rule that any innovation is examined and negotiated together and that all the different interests are taken into account. There comes a time when a decision has to be made. Poland and the Czech Republic have completed their parliamentary ratification but the respective presidents are holding up the indispensable signing of the treaty. In Germany, a new verdict from the constitutional court is awaited. In Finland, the Archipelago of Aland Islands has to have its say. Is it really possible that a few thousand inhabitants from this Archipelago can determine the future of Europe? The reasons for the misgivings and opposition are sometimes quite insignificant. Mr Topolánek was right (last week he was still the Czech prime minister and president of the European Council) to point out to the Senate of his country - which was prevaricating in its approval of the Lisbon Treaty due to the rivalry and pettiness of the political parties - what the stakes at play were for his country: rejection of this treaty would put it on Europe's margins and put it back into Russia's sphere of influence.
Accepting the consequences of the choices we make. There is no justification for any kind of pressure but clarification is necessary. It is quite normal and even preferable that those who do not believe in European integration, its importance and goals, remain on the margins of it. I will return to my starting point: the time for procrastination, concessions and compromises is at an end. If the Lisbon Treaty is blocked, the member states that want to deepen and improve European integration will find the path ahead to move forward together and “differentiation” will become the norm. Respect has to be mutual: the choice of member states that do not wish to go down the road of integration must be respected, as should the goal of the countries that consider integration indispensable.
A poorly integrated Europe could even continue its geographical expansion and dilute itself in the direction of Turkey, Ukraine and perhaps even Morocco and elsewhere. No-one, however, should be surprised if the level of solidarity, the character of common policies and the operational functions of the institutions are not identical. We all have to accept the consequences of the choices we make. (F.R./transl.rh)