By Chris Jones - 16th February 2007
Germany’s finance minister Michael Glos this week gave the clearest indication yet that Berlin is prepared to take on other EU capitals over the constitution.
Speaking at the plenary session of the Committee of the Regions, the EU institution which represents local and regional authorities, Glos said that there was “no alternative” to the constitutional treaty.
Glos said the wishes of the 18 member states that had already ratified the charter could not just be “brushed aside” and that Germany would fight to maintain the current text.
But Germany is likely to face strong criticism of its plans from eurosceptic countries such as Poland and the UK, while support for a new text also remains minimal in France and the Netherlands, where voters rejected the constitution in 2005.
“Only that [constitutional] treaty is going to make Europe more democratic and efficient,” Glos said. “The substance is there and we have to build on that substance.”
Berlin has yet to clarify how it intends to resurrect the moribund treaty – in its entirety or in part, as favoured by many countries – although Glos’ comments clearly show that a total rewrite is not being considered.
The regional politicians who Glos was addressing were cheered by his comments, since the proposed constitution gave them far more power over the implementation of EU rules.
The constitutional treaty included explicit recognition of local and regional self-government and, perhaps more importantly, gave new rights to the CoR to challenge laws that breach EU regulations.
Under the so-called subsidiarity system, rules are meant to be implemented at the most local level of government wherever possible – although regional politicians frequently complain that EU regulations are often arbitrarily imposed on them by central government.
Glos also stressed the importance of input from local and regional politicians in drawing up a new constitutional text – and in selling the whole EU project to an increasingly sceptical electorate.
“We need to involve the CoR in our endeavours, as well as the regions themselves and civil society. If Europe is not supported by the regions, it will be difficult for Europe to press ahead,” he said.
“It will be a success if, by the end of our presidency, we have been able to work out a roadmap [for the constitutional process],” he added.
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.