Greece in the Euro. Farewell to Jean-Claude Juncker's youthful ideals
(BRUXELLES2) After a tormented weekend, the 'coming' of Jean-Claude Juncker was expected, in the packed press room at the Berlaymont afterwards. The Luxembourger lived up to his reputation. He showed himself this Monday (June 29), at the height of his function. With a speech that can be described as historic. Because beyond the political words, there was a certain emotion, a certain personal vision that the European leader wanted to put forward...
At the rendezvous of history
Once is not custom, the President of the Commission has also endeavored as much as possible to respect his written speech, written with chalk. As if the president was a little afraid of letting his heart speak too much and unleashing his anger or his wrath against the leader Alexis Tsipras and his entourage in particular, but also on some other European leaders, with too short a vision of the future. Beyond the technical details and the political message, it is thus a personal message that Juncker wanted to deliver, a kind of farewell, or rather a return to his youthful ideals, ideals that he still maintains, against winds and tides, refusing to give in to ease...
Not seeing Plato play in the second division
“When I started, a long time ago, my European life, we were ten Member States, it was in December 1982. The tenth Member State had just joined the European family, a year earlier. It was Greece and I was happy at the time to see Greece join us to complete the European Union, which was still called the European Communities at that time. Following Valéry Giscard d'Estaing's formula, I didn't want to 'see Plato play in the second division'. »
A Europe that is too selfish
Alternating French - which made up most of the speech -, English and German and ending with two words in Greek, President Juncker tried to pick up the pieces of a broken dream of Europe. " In one night, in one single night, the European conscience took quite a blow. The goodwill has somewhat evaporated. Selfishness, sometimes tactical or even populist games have taken over. » He thus targets, without naming him Alexis Tsipras, but also certain European leaders or officials who have probably not shown flexibility. In the negotiation, which he thought was in good faith, he believes that at least one of the parties did not play the game.
A feeling of betrayal
« After all the efforts that I have made, after all the efforts of the Commission and also of the other institutions involved, I feel a little betrayed because insufficient account is taken of my personal efforts and the efforts of others who were numerous and long-lasting. There was a lot of noise, a lot of fury and it drowned out the voices of those who worked, and continue to work, day and night, and I'm not making this up.
Vote yes...
In the end, contrary to what some European leaders had done in the past, Jean-Claude Juncker did not hesitate to project himself into the battle, to call "to vote YES" " regardless of the question asked "," because Greek citizens (...) and rightly so, proud of themselves and of their country, must say yes to Europe ". In doing so, he avoids falling into the technical trap that could arise and transforms the referendum question on the austerity program into a "Yes" or "No" to Europe and the Euro Zone...
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
NB: I advise all those who are interested in Europe - and even those who are not interested in it - to read this text. He will go down (for me) in the annals as a momentum. Download the discourse
