EU sets 2009 deadline for reform

German chancellor Angela Merkel has pledged to complete reforms of the EU institutions before the European elections in June 2009.

Speaking at the launch of the Berlin declaration, the text highlighting the EU’s achievements and plotting a way forward after its 50th birthday on Sunday, Merkel said that it was vital for Europe to be able to “act more effectively”.

“The internal structures must be adapted to an enlarged union with 27 member states,” she said. “The EU needs more and it needs better defined competences than it has at present: in energy policy, in foreign policy, in justice and home affairs.”

But she went to great lengths to stress that she was not resurrecting the much-criticised European constitution.

“Anyone who hoped that 50 years after the treaties of Rome we would have a constitutional treaty will be disappointed,” she said.

“But… our Berlin declaration points the way forward. For we know that we must always renew the political shape of Europe in keeping with the times.”

Merkel’s claims that Europe was “united in our aim of placing the EU on a renewed common basis before the European parliament elections in 2009” rang slightly false, however, with the Czechs and Poles in particular angered by the setting of such an early date.

The German leader neatly side-stepped the criticism by signing the declaration on behalf of all member states – with José Manuel Barroso signing on behalf of the commission and Hans-Gert Pöttering on behalf of parliament.

And she urged the Portuguese – the next holders of the rotating EU presidency – to programme a new inter-governmental conference to move the discussions forward as early as possible.

Barroso backed Merkel’s programme of reform. “Let me be clear. My vision of Europe is not one where only European institutions promote unity and member states defend diversity,” he said.

“A real partnership is where European institutions respect diversity and national governments promote unity. That's why we need the community method and subsidiarity.” 

He urged national capitals – especially the most eurosceptic – to rethink their vision of Europe.

“The EU is not a ‘foreign power’ invading our countries; it is our common project. Europe is not ‘them’, it is ‘us’.”

“It is tempting, but it is not honest for national politicians to take all the credit and give ‘Brussels’ all the blame. Let us resist that temptation.”

Pöttering also gave his backing to Merkel’s efforts. “The European parliament is in favour of the constitutional treaty, which was jointly framed by MEPs, national parliamentarians and representatives of governments and the European commission.”

“We wish the substance of the constitutional treaty, including the expression of our common values, to become legally binding before the European elections of June 2009.”

“It gives national parliaments greater influence over European policy. In nearly all fields, the European parliament acquires equal legislative rights with the council.”

Notwithstanding the murmurings of dissent from Warsaw and Prague, and the fact that the declaration mentioned the success of the common market and the euro – in defiance of some national capitals – the Berlin celebrations passed off without incident.

Highlights of the party in Berlin included a concert by British singer Joe Cocker and a selection of birthday cakes from across the EU.

 

 

 

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