Lisbon Treaty is not just an instrument. Ireland is not, by far, the only cause of the current difficulties affecting European integration. The Irish referendum on 2 October will no doubt have a decisive impact on the fate of the Lisbon Treaty, but complications still continue in other areas (see this column yesterday) and the Lisbon Treaty is, above all, just one instrument for facilitating the relaunch of European integration. It is going to be the political will of member states, the spirit of initiative and the determination of the Community institutions, as well as the direction of public opinion, that will determine the future of the EU. To what extent will countries that built Europe stick to the basic objectives of the enterprise? Is European political integration still relevant?
Jacques Delors has just spoken about the country which remains, for objective reasons, at the centre of European construction: its geographical position, its economic weight and its population make Germany impossible to ignore. Jacques Delors asks, with examples to back him up, about Germany's determination to continue its action along the path of Community political integration and “the ever closer Union between the European peoples”. He rejects the accusation that Germany is practising a selfish economic and monetary policy. Delors does not criticise the limits laid down in its Constitution, which put a ceiling on what budget deficit is allowed and prevents the Länder (regions) from getting into debt, because it would be unreasonable, “to demand the Germans to commit the same stupidities as their neighbours”. What is lacking in Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) is the coordination of economic policies; but, “on this subject, there is an allergic reaction that isn't just German, it's more generalised than that”.
Three “worrying signs”. Mr Delors is making more of a reference to three “worrying signs” identified in Germany's official positions: a) the refusal to increase Union budget resources; b) its opposition to a European loan and c) its opposition to creating an “energy community”. Delors also adds Ms Merkel's refusal to contemplate “strengthened cooperation” at a European level to enable certain countries to move forwards, while leaving the door open to the others.
Jacques Delors warns, however, against the temptation of exclusively blaming Germany for the current difficulties in European construction. In his opinion, Germany's attitude is more of a reflection of “the general atmosphere in all European countries”. On the following page, we republish the main points of his article on the German line towards European integration because the comments on this subject open an essential debate on the future of the EU, whatever the final result of the Lisbon Treaty turns out to be. Mr Delors' initial comments on the decision made by the Constitutional Court of Karlsruhe on this treaty are simply summarised because he has absolutely no intention of putting a halt to the discussions about the legal scope of this ruling, but considers it as symptomatic of German concerns. EUROPE 9982 announced that next Wednesday, the Representation of the Hesse Region to the EU, will be organising a conference-debate in Brussels. A judge from the Karlsruhe Constitutional Court will take part in the event, as well as the former Advocate General of the European Court of Justice.
Crucial pillar in European unity. One conclusive remark that I consider essential is that Germany's overall direction (that of its people and the political class) in favour of European unity is not being questioned in the least. Sunday's elections will confirm this because none of the three traditional political parties question it. Germany will remain, no matter what, a crucial pillar in European construction. What is up for discussion, however, is what form will future development take: will it go in the direction of political integration and closer unity between the different European people or rather, towards a sort of organised intergovernmental cooperation, which would certainly be extremely important but far removed from the European dream?
That said, Jacques Delors' article, published in the French magazine “Challenge”, is on the following page. The debate is now open. (F.R./transl.rh)