|
|
| |
| |
Editorial
12/2005 |
|
Nucleus of coherence
The last time D+C/E+Z focussed on the European Union was in November 2004. Back then, the headline of my editorial read “potential heavyweight”. It referred, first, to a possibly much greater European role in defining the rules of globalisation and, second, to wide-spread hopes that the new Development Commissioner, Louis Michel, a former Foreign Minister of Belgium, might prove more effective and dynamic than his predecessor had been.
One year later, it is obvious that Commissioner Michel is living up to the expectations. His most prominent success this year was the official approval of a binding time frame for EU members to fulfil a generation-old pledge. By 2015, they are to spend 0.7 % of gross domestic product on official development assistance. Michel has since been pressing for a “European Development Consensus” meant to help better coordinate the development efforts of the EU’s 25 member governments. As D+C was going to press, the Council of Ministers adopted such a common statement (see p. 454).
The EU is in a sorry state and needs more coherence. It seems less decisive than ever, since its draft constitution failed to win the approval of the French and the Dutch in referenda earlier this year. The constitution was supposed to improve decision-making in terms of speed, transparency and democratic legitimacy. Achieving that was deemed essential – and still is – because of the accession of another ten nations last year. Even for a Union of 15 nations, procedures had been cumbersome and unconvincing – and will prove even more so with 25 members. Accession is, no doubt, a great success. The opportunity to join helped countries in Central and Eastern Europe to make the transition from centrally-planned socialism to democracy and market economies fast and peacefully. However, we now face the risk of an unwieldy Europe precisely at a time when the world needs it to act. Internationally, expectations are higher than ever before – just consider peace keeping missions in Africa.
The Iraq war has taught EU leaders a lesson. European infighting contributed to making possible this military adventure that increasingly looks like an enduring nightmare for the entire international community. Even Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy, a participant in George Bush’s coalition of the willing, is now trying to make believe – perhaps not all that convincingly – that he tried to talk the US president out of the Iraq campaign.
Undisputedly, one reason for the current mess in Iraq was that the USA started military action without adequately providing for – or even planning – reconstruction. The Iraq experience has accordingly reinforced the conviction among Europe’s leaders that the EU needs a Common Foreign and Security Policy which takes appropriate account of development. This message is evident in the new Consensus. All members converge on basic goals such as fighting poverty, promoting the rule of law or resolving conflicts by peaceful means. That consensus can – and should – serve as a nucleus for a more cohesive common agenda in other fields as well.
As always, however, implementing tangible choices will prove more difficult than agreeing on fundamental tenets. Europe’s policy-making institutions (Commission, Council of Ministers and national governments) are still not as coordinated as they must be to rise to global challenges. In this context, it will remain to be seen, to what extent the Development Consensus can help Michel coordinate policy in practical terms. It is no substitute for a constitution that might provide a clear and efficient division of powers.
Dr. Hans Dembowski
Editor in Chief of D+C Development and Cooperation/E+Z Entwicklung und Zusammenarbeit
euz.editor@fsd.de
|
|
|
