"Absorption capacity": the wrong European debate, Frank Vibert

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 00:00:00 +0100

The "no" results in the May-June 2005 referenda in France and the Netherlands on the European Union's proposed constitution were followed by predictable statements that the EU was in a condition of crisis. This crisis was said to be composed of three elements:

the rejection of the constitution (more strictly, of the treaty establishing the constitution) by a national vote in two key member-states
the doubts the failed referenda cast over further EU enlargement
the doubts they cast over the economy – especially the future of the "Lisbon agenda" designed to improve Europe's ability to compete in global markets.

Such "crisis talk" remains a backdrop to much media discussion, and is reinforced by the apparent lack of substance in some of the EU's consultations (such as the European Council meeting to close the Austrian presidency, before Finland assumes the role for the second half of 2006). But the language of crisis was always artificial and overblown. A year on, the EU's mood is beginning to change for the better.

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"Absorption capacity": the wrong European debate, Frank Vibert