Lisbon treaty

by Joan-Marc Simon is Secretary General of the Union of European Federalists

Remember the slogan of the EU during last 10 years? Yes, that thing about becoming the most competitive knowledge-based economy in the world? Well, then get ready to continue laughing or crying- because the European Commission has published its new economic strategy for 2020 and it seems we are willing to throw 10 more years down the drain.

The Lisbon strategy didn’t work because of lack of political instruments, lack of financial means and, above all, lack of political will from the member states. The new economic plan that the European Commission published on March 3rd insists on setting targets without providing financial and enforcement tools to achieve them. Yes, the objectives are nice (albeit being too short and unambitious):

• 75 % of the population aged 20-64 should be employed.
• 3% of the EU's GDP should be invested in R & D
• The climate/energy targets should be met.
• The share of early school leavers should be under 10% and at least 40% of the younger generation should have a degree or diploma. .
• 20 million less people should be at risk of poverty

But how is the European Commission planning to achieve them? How do we want to create employment without investment? To add insult to injury the EC requires that these objectives are met whilst respecting the Growth and Stability Pact and without increasing the own resources of the Union… In times when the Monetary Union is at risk and the Growth and Stability Pact is violated by most member states what is the great solution from the EC? Just more business as usual and repeat the same mistakes of the Lisbon strategy. Depressing.

The text of the commission doesn’t say anything on how to reform the financial markets, doesn’t provide any proposal on how to reform the economic governance to tackle problems such as Greece indebtedness, there is nothing on social Europe, nothing on Euro-Bonds or any ideas of how to increase the own resources of the Union…

Plus, why do we need a strategy for 2020? The only reason I can think of is in order to guarantee that all those who should be responsible of the next failure can be out of the game by then and therefore escape any attempt to hold them accountable. If the current Commission, the current European Parliament and the Council want to go ahead with this insufficient plan let’s set the goals for 2014 so that at the end of their mandate we can see what they have delivered.

In February the new Barroso Commission was approved by the three big groups in the European Parliament -Conservatives, Socialists and Liberals- under the promise that he would change the business as usual, that he was not the grey and submissed Commission president that he was during his first term. Well, here is the first test and the lack of ambition can’t be more blatant. What are they going to do now? If the big groups in the EP are consequent with themselves either they force a radical change in the economic strategy or they should threaten with blocking the EU budget. Anything less will put the Parliament at the same level as the Commission.

But let’s not fall in the usual trap of blaming the EC for everything. The EC is not guilty for its lack of ambition alone, I’m convinced the Commission is aware -and probably shares- what I mentioned above but the main problem lies on the lack of political will from the member states. Lack of political will boycotted the Lisbon strategy, boycotts the creation of any kind of European economic governance and will stop any attempt to give to this European economic strategy any chance to succeed.

In a perfect example of the prisoner dilemma the Commission and the member states opt for the worst possible option, an option that will harm both Europe and the member states.

The issue is very serious and the Europeans deserve a lot more. If Barroso doesn’t dare to take the risk to challenge the status quo, then the European Parliament should stand up to defend the future of the Union. If nothing else because nobody else will.

“KLAUS A VEXATIOUS LITIGANT”, says Andrew Duff, President of the Union of European Federalists.

The Irish people have given their decisive backing to the Lisbon treaty. This vote does credit to all those political forces in Ireland which have had to combat, over many months, the lies and distortions about the European project peddled by nationalists and europhobes.

The vote means that Irish voices will continue to be influential in the politics of the EU. The common interest of all Europe will always have an Irishness about it.

Ireland has clearly and decisively added its weight to the building of a stronger, more effective and more democratic European Union.

Now all 27 countries have taken their own democratic decisions to back EU reform. No further delay can be tolerated in bringing the treaty into force as quickly and efficiently as possible. It would be the height of folly for Mr Vaclav Klaus to block the entry into force of the treaty. One does not expect the President of the Czech Republic to behave like a vexatious litigant.

The world waits while the European Union concludes its internal constitutional controversies. Lisbon in force will make the EU strong in world affairs and provide Europe's states and citizens with good government of a federal character. Let's get on with the job.

Following the agreement of the Heads of Government on Ireland’s legal dispositions today at the EU summit, UEF President Andrew Duff said:

The Irish government has done well to craft interpretations of the Lisbon treaty which are specific to the Irish case and which will not affect its interpretation in other States. The substance of the original treaty contract is untouched. But Ireland has got what it needs to clarify the meaning of the treaty so that its second referendum will be free from the distortions and confusion which marked the first referendum campaign.

Coupled with the decision not to reduce the size of the European Commission (as long as the Lisbon treaty enters into force), the pro-treaty parties have won enough to fight a self-confident, united and successful campaign to win over Irish hearts and minds in favour of a stronger and more democratic European Union.

Written by Matteo Garavoglia, PhD candidate, Berlin Graduate School for Transnational Studies (BTS), Research Group on the Transformative Power of Europe (KFG), Union of the European Federalists (UEF)

At a time of crisis, Europe needs the tools to effectively deal with new challenges. Unfortunately, the European Union is an “unfinished project” which still functions with the flawed institutional architecture inherited from the 2000 Nice Treaty. The EU is therefore almost 10 years late in addressing today’s challenges.

Far from being perfect, the Lisbon Treaty is the only realistic option to try to quickly address the institutional shortcomings of the EU. All but 4 member states have ratified the Lisbon Treaty and it is time for the remaining ones to follow suit. The Treaty would contribute to make the EU 1) more democratic and transparent, 2) more efficient, 3) more responsive to the values and the needs of Europe’s citizens, and 4) a more effective actor on the global stage.

Without the Lisbon Treaty, the EU would risk remaining stuck in its old habits: there would be no stable Presidency of the European Council, no coherent foreign policy, a marginal role for national parliaments and so on. If the Lisbon Treaty is not ratified, there might even be the possibility of some more “integrationist” states to decide to move forward and forge a closer, ad hoc, Union.

The current crises are threatening the achievements Europeans enjoyed over the last half century: the common market, the Euro and freedom of movement are only some among such achievements. Europe is at an historical crossroads and it needs the tools to face the challenges of the 21st century.

Europe needs Lisbon. Now.

The Union of European Federalists today publishes its manifesto for the European Parliament elections. Stronger Together in a Federal Europe responds to the current crises of the economy, climate and international security by calling for the European Union to strengthen its system of government.

In a 12 point strategy, the UEF calls for the rapid entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. It supports the stronger regulation at the EU level of the financial sector and calls for a common macro-economic policy, including the launch of EU bonds, the completion of the single market, a reformed EU budget and a uniform approach by the eurozone to global financial negotiations.

Andrew Duff MEP, President of the UEF, says:

Europe faces a stark choice. Either we pull more closely together, unifying our resources and intensifying our resolve, or we fall apart. The UEF addresses this manifesto to the parties and candidates who are fighting the elections in June.

The European Union which emerges from the present slump must be better equipped to rectify its causes. This means not only unity in economic and monetary policy but also European leadership in combating climate change and a much larger security and defence dimension to the EU's external action.

The old EU treaties have not provided a system of governance which is tough enough to cope with present day conditions. Lisbon is therefore a necessity.

European federalists will play a critical part within our different parties during the forthcoming election campaign and in the next European Parliament. We appeal to voters not to fall prey to the simplistic temptations of demagogic nationalists, but to resist isolationism and protectionism. Europeans will be stronger together.