Paper 3
It is almost too late for the renaissance of Europe!
Our old Europe has more assets, through its diversity and its values, than any other player, but it runs up against the unanimity rule, which makes a Europe of 28 ungovernable.
The European Union is paralysed and even divided in the face of about ten major strategic issues, including the migration crisis and Daesh, Brexit, Greece and Turkey.
The current European model no longer brings people together. What can be done so that citizens wake up and act for the renaissance of Europe?
The new Europe could be the heart of a multipolar world whose players will be continents or sub-continents, and in which a more proactive EU would carry weight on the global stage.
A two-speed Europe is taking shape: on the one hand, the historic core of the six founding members, which seems to want to move forward and correct the shortcomings of the political and monetary union; on the other, the sceptics, often paralysed by their own interests.
This reduced European core of countries ready to move forward will always remain open to others, in time and space.
Let us be proud of the new Europe, which must reconnect with its citizens, increase its visibility and put forward a powerful and proactive message. Being proud of Europe requires a unifying project that makes it possible to introduce the European citizens' initiative referendum, intended to involve citizens and make them actors of their own future.
Participation has a name, which the Athenians already knew: the agora. The Swiss call it popular initiative or “votation”. The right to referendum will be the price of the institutions' credibility and one of the essential keys to the cement of the new Europe's renaissance. This unifying project must also increase the Union's visibility through the creation of an EU label in every field: sport, culture, technology… Let success be identified with Europe. Let us strengthen cohesion through the co-financing of major European projects in energy, the environment, transport, defence, communications, information and education. Let us create real solidarity between national governments and the decisions taken at European Councils.
This new unifying project will have to rely on a gradual plan of reforms in 7 main areas:
1. Institutions. The institutions of the new Europe will be federal in type. They will consist of a President and a Parliament elected by the people. The Government (Commission) will be appointed by the President and accountable to the Parliament. The ECB will keep its independence. The European Court of Justice will form the third power. The European Council, made up of heads of state and government, will keep an advisory opinion on the proposals of the Parliament and the Commission. The Council's opinion would become binding only by a two-thirds majority. It would then represent an ultimate safeguard against the decisions of the Parliament and the Commission.
2. Economic policy. Economic policy, based on support, recovery and austerity measures, will see to the gradual harmonisation of all incomes on an equal basis, in order to avoid any unfair tax and social competition. Budgetary control will be subject to a standardised accounting plan. Each country will submit its assets, liabilities and operating account. The various balance sheets and accounts will be compared and consolidated at European level.
3. Foreign policy. Foreign policy will be led by a single Minister of Foreign Affairs. National embassies will be abolished in Europe and only European embassies will operate outside Europe.
4. Defence policy. Defence policy will involve a single military power enabling Europe to hold its rank in the multipolar world. It will come under the President.
5. Communication, education and culture. Communication, education and culture policy will be based on bilingual teaching from primary school and trilingual teaching from secondary school, with a specific course on the origins, structure, functioning and major accomplishments of the EU. A one-year intra-European Erasmus will be generalised in higher education.
6. Immigration policy. Immigration policy will require a proactive plan for crisis prevention and management. The integration of legal immigrants will go hand in hand with an intra-European exchange of information. The financial support of asylum seekers will be handled at European level. Border security will fall under the European Minister of Defence. Frontex will form its embryo.
Together, let us be the actors of Europe's renaissance!
February 2016
