Former leaders warn of crisis facing EU

Date: 18/10/01

By Martin Banks

ELDER statesmen led by Jacques Delors have prescribed their cure for Europe's ills - with a warning that the EU risks total paralysis.

In an open letter dubbed a 'wake-up call for Europe', the 13 former leaders warn that the Union must become far more efficient and democratic if it is to win over a growing army of Eurosceptics. They delivered their message to heads of state and government ahead of the European Council meeting taking place in the Belgian city of Ghent tomorrow (19 October).

Although the fight against terrorism will dominate the summit, EU leaders are also expected to focus on the future of Europe, which forms the core a 'mini-manifesto' masterminded by Belgian former commissioner Etienne Davignon.

The signatories to his letter have been the driving force behind European integration spanning three decades: there are three former commission presidents - Delors, Jacques Santer and Roy Jenkins; two German Chancellors, Helmut Kohl and Helmut Schmidt; a Spanish President, Felipe Gonzalez; Portuguese President Mario Soares and Prime Minister Maria de Lourdes Pintassilgo; Belgian premier Jean-Luc Dehaene; Italian Prime Minister Guiliano Amato and Commissioners Karel van Miert and Peter Sutherland.

Davignon told European Voice that the 13 did not agree on everything in the text, but were driven to act because there were "unavoidable issues" to be faced that could "no longer be simply pushed under the carpet". "Of course there were differences of opinion on certain things, he said, "however, this is a good balance." Unless the EU delivered to its citizens, there would be "a severe penalty to pay in terms of the European Union's role in world affairs", he warned. "We are not trying to hector European leaders but, rather, help them and make a positive contribution to the debate on constitutional reforms."

The four-page manifesto does not pull its punches as it identifies the "unavoidable issues" clouding the horizon. "The real danger for Europe now is that everything may come to a halt," it states, referring to the strain that enlargement will put on institutions built for six members. "For a number of years, the European Union has been losing momentum and is suffering from a loss of identity because of the lack of any common political project beyond enlargement. "Divided over economic and monetary union as well as over defence, Europe can agree neither on the objectives and methods of integration, nor on what more is needed in order to make a success of enlargement." Davignon's group say new life needs to be injected into the main EU institutions, adding: "The growing complexity of the institutions weakens and reduces popular support for them."

The manifesto argues that greater efficiency and democracy are crucial, emphasising that Europe's elected bodies must be the powerhouse of a future "federation of nation states". The European Council must concentrate "more than at present on its essential role of providing impetus and guidance", while the Commission would "gain more democratic credentials if its presidency and composition were linked to the European elections". The letter calls for "all legislative and budgetary power" to be exercised by MEPs through co-decision with a Council of Ministers comprising only of those ministers "essentially concerned with European affairs".

This more-focused Council should in general vote by qualified majority, it says, to avoid the "regrettable Brussels practice of compiling package deals, where a point of no particular interest is vetoed" by a country to secure agreement to an issue of importance to it. "This is a contagious process that can lead to a more general paralysis and to a system where only bureaucrats feel at home," the letter warns. However, the former leaders do offer some optimism: "Never has the European dream that was formulated 50 years ago been as tangible as it is today. "This achievement should give us confidence as well as pride. Europe, in becoming a community of values, is fulfilling its destiny," they say. Their 'wake-up' manifesto was presented to Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and Commission President Romano Prodi ahead of this week's informal summit.

Enrique Baron, President of the Party of European Socialists group, welcomed the manifesto, but added: "This does not mean that I agree with everything in the letter.There should, for example, be greater reference made to a wider role for the European Parliament."

Elder statesmen led by Jacques Delors have prescribed their cure for Europe's ills - with a warning that the EU risks total paralysis. In an open letter dubbed 'a wake-up call for Europe', the 13 former leaders warn that the Union must become far more efficient and democratic if it is to win over a growing army of Eurosceptics.