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EMBARGO 14/12/2006 AT 17H00 (Brussels)
ELDR Leader Annemie Neyts calls upon all Liberal Leaders
to re-dynamise the European Union.
At the approach of its fiftieth anniversary, the European Union and its leaders still struggle with a severe midlife crisis triggered by the negative outcomes of the referenda in France and the Netherlands. As of today, nobody seems able to indicate a positive way out, or to come up with convincing remedies. It is high time to shake off the EU blues, and liberal leaders should be the ones to do so first. We should solemnly renew our commitment to the EU and the four freedoms on which it is based: the free movement of people, goods, services and capital. We should solemnly reaffirm our commitment to the political principles on which the EU is based: democracy, the rule of law, a functioning market economy and human rights.
All these are truly liberal principles, now largely shared by the peoples of the Union, and envied in most parts of the world. The upcoming anniversary offers Liberals a unique opportunity to assess and publicise the contribution of our ideals to fifty years of peace and economic development. Peace however is taken for granted by the generations born after World War Two, and no longer suffices to legitimise the Union.
Economic development is seen to be threatened by the emergence of new economic powers and by the swift development of globalisation. In order to develop effective answers to these challenges and to the other challenges that are emerging (such as climate change, demographic change, migrations, terrorism, international crime); in order to turn these challenges into opportunities, member states and the institutions of the Union must reassess their relationship. Member states on the one hand and the institutions of the Union on the other hand too often act as competitors, jealously guarding their competencies, criticizing one another, appealing to the public against each other.
Liberal leaders should put a stop to this. Liberal leaders in the institutions of the Union, and in the governments and parliaments of member states should create an environment of renewed cooperation, where each entity concentrates on what it does best. At EU level, liberal leaders should concentrate on those areas where EU action really adds value.
Therefore liberal leaders should determine the areas where a common EU approach is more effective than the sum of 27 different national approaches. Surely, common rules on migration would be more effective than 27 different sets of rules; surely, increased cooperation among judiciaries, security and police services would benefit the struggle against international crime and terrorism.
Surely, common operations of peace enforcement and peace keeping would be more effective than the current conjunction of as many sets of rules of engagement and caveats as there are nations contributing troops. Surely, a truly EU wide energy policy would be more effective than the sum of 27 different energy policies. Liberal leaders should not only point the way, we should also act accordingly, each at his or her level.
Whether or not an EU approach has an added value should be the guiding principle. The EU institutions on their part should resist the temptation to enter into ever new areas where they don't necessarily add real value. Is the EU level the best fitted to address questions concerning education (beyond encouraging exchanges of students, teachers and professors)? Is the EU level the best fitted to develop cultural policies? Is the EU level the best fitted to develop policies to fight unemployment, except by macro economic measures?
Liberal Commissioners should concentrate on those areas where the EU really adds value, and clearly point at member states whenever they have agreed to carry out a commonly decided policy, as is the case of the Lisbon Process. Liberal leaders should be especially careful to adjust rhetoric and action, and to make the most of the available means. With barely one percent of the combined GDP of the EU to spend, the EU cannot possibly compete with the member states that spend on average around 40 per cent of their respective GDP. The EU leaders seldom acknowledge this sobering fact; the national leaders do so even less. One percent of the combined EU GDP is however a lot of money, and it should be spent wisely.
Liberal leaders may want to reorient EU expenditure and, for instance, further reduce the huge amounts spent on agriculture, but then we should clearly say so to our farmers, and come up with acceptable alternatives for both the farmers and the consumers. Liberal leaders may question the effectiveness of the EU expenditure for regional and structural development, but then we should launch the debate publicly. Liberal leaders have been, until now, among the staunchest advocates of enlargement.
More fundamentally, EU enlargement has been a decisive factor in the spread of democracy, rule of law and market economy throughout most of Europe. Liberal leaders should remain true to the commitments made to Croatia and the states of the Western Balkans. Liberal leaders should allow negotiations with Turkey to continue provided that Turkey fulfils the Copenhagen criteria. Finally, Liberal leaders should contribute to the effectiveness of the EU decision making.
The draft Constitutional Treaty offers substantial improvements in all decision-making mechanisms. These were seldom criticised during the referendum campaigns; the EU policies or the absence thereof were severely criticised. Liberal leaders should take account of these facts when we revisit the draft treaty, as we should in the near future.
The most daunting task for Liberal leaders and leaders in general, however will be to retake the initiative in the debates on the European Union, to retake the lead, to point the way, to transform challenges into opportunities, rather than to go on saying what we believe the voters are thinking, thereby solidifying and strengthening our voters' worst fears, which is one of the surest paths to electoral defeat for liberals.
By implementing these proposals, the European Liberal Democrats, each at their own level and united in their desire to get the EU out of its current `blues', will, I hope, contribute to re-launching European dynamism!
Annemie Neyts - Uyttebroeck
ELDR - President
ELDR is united by the following common views and beliefs:
European Citizens' Initiative: This should be supported to give European citizens a much greater say in decision-making at the EU level.
Environment and energy policy: The EU needs to phase out its dependence on hydrocarbons and develop the wide-spread use of renewable energy sources to not only help address the issue of climate change and environmental sustainability, but also remove doubts over the availability of energy supplies. Member States should pool their resources and research and development efforts in order for economically viable renewable energy alternatives to be easily accessible and widely implemented.
Common Foreign Security Policy: The development of common guidelines for military operations with special respect to safeguarding human rights and establishing a close cooperation between the Commission (and its representatives) and the EU High Representative for the CFSP. The permanent and non permanent EU Member States of the UN Security Council should carefully coordinate their actions with the other member states, the Commission and the High Representative for CFSP.
European Security Defence Policy: The completion of an effective Rapid Reaction Task Force is a priority as is the further development of the European Defence Agency. The EU must develop a Defence Identity and pursue a comprehensive approach to promoting peace and security based on: (1) conflict prevention, (2) crisis management, (3) post-conflict institution building.
Common Immigration and Asylum Policy: More competences should be passed to the Union for regulating this policy area, particularly in the fields of border controls, a common coordination strategy for illegal immigration and fighting against international crime and terrorism.
EU single market: The adoption of the services directive is a welcome step towards the creation of an internal market for services. In order to reap the benefits of globalisation and remain prosperous, the Union must promote free trade and achieve the full realisation of the four freedoms.
Education: The EU needs to continue working to ensure that qualifications such as university degrees and diplomas that are achieved in a member state are recognised throughout the Union.
Budget: The EU budget should be increased if it is more focussed on spending in the field of research and development.
Common Agricultural Policy: The CAP should be replaced with a Food and Rural Policy that would take into account all sectors of the economy based in rural areas.
Enlargement: The Copenhagen Criteria must be applied in any future enlargement process.
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