Guy Verhofstadt, the Last of the European Mohicans
(B2 archives) At a time of European gloom, there is one who does not drop out of the European dream. In Brussels, Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt has overcome since 1999 several "crises" ou "events" Europeans: Austria and its far-right ministers in power, the attacks in New York — Belgium then chaired the European Union — the Euro, enlargement, the war in Iraq, etc. Without deviating from its European creed. An "authentic" as Jacques Delors testifies. And to those who still doubt it, he writes it down and hammers it home in a little 66-page manifesto, "The United States of Europe", the English version of which has just been released in the United Kingdom.
Referendums Revealed Unease
“The French and Dutch referendums did not reveal a new crisis so much. Rather, they revealed the malaise that was welling up at European level. he writes. “Why did they vote No” ? A question likely to arouse further controversy in France and the Netherlands. The one who, in his time, was nicknamed "Baby Thatcher" detects that, apart from a few countries, “people do not want less Europe but another Europe”.
Sort out tasks
How to continue? “Europe must stop quibbling” he assures. She must leave “certain tasks which the Member States are better able to take on” — agriculture is barely mentioned — and “to focus on certain missions”: “a common army and a foreign policy that will speak with one and the same voice”, “a European area of justice to fight against organized crime”, and “a socio-economic strategy” which tackles the two great challenges “Globalization and the aging of the population”.
Harmonize, regulate
The key word is "convergence". It is necessary to define “minima and maxima, including in terms of social protection and taxation” assumes this liberal without complex, follower of the market economy, but pragmatic to the devil (he governs for six years in coalition with the Socialists). A Europe-wide revolution? Without doubt. But the one who was cycling with Romano Prodi, when the Italian was president of the European Commission, assumes this change of gear…
two circles
If it is impossible to mobilize all the countries, never mind, let us mobilize those who want to move forward. Europe “would then comprise two circles: a political core, a “United States of Europe” based on the Euro zone, with a President and a typical federal Parliament – a chamber of peoples, a chamber of States – endowed with legislative power. Around them, a confederation of states, a “organization of European states”.
Utopian certainly, unachievable not sure if by chance France and Germany decide, finally, to move forward again with a common step...
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
- Appeared in West-France, March 21, 2006
French version "The United States of Europe" (ed. Luc Pire, coll. Voix politiques, 11 euros, release March 20 in France) - English version "United states of Europe" (to be published at the end of April, Federal Trust for Education & Research, 9 books).
