The popping of champagne corks, the concerts and the speeches in Berlin on the weekend of 24-25 March 2007 were designed to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and with it a remarkable half-century of European integration and unification. The "Berlin declaration" issued by leaders of the European Union's twenty-seven member-states capped the rich symbolism of the occasion. But its real significance lies elsewhere: it suggests that, after two years of stagnation and strife, the EU show is moving back onto the road. True, early spring can be a time of disappointment and a sudden return of winter. But the evidence from the gathering is of a renewed determination to make the institutions and decision-making processes of the European Union fit for purpose.
The key words in the declaration came when the assembled government recognised that: "We must continue to renew and update the political shape of Europe. That is why, 50 years after the signing of the Treaties of Rome, we are today united in the goal of achieving a renewed common foundation for the European Union before the elections to the European Parliament in 2009. Because we know: Europe is our common future."
Also in openDemocracy on the European Union at fifty:
Aurore Wanlin, "The European Union at fifty: a second life"
(15 March 2007)
Krzysztof Bobinski, "European unity: reality and myth"
(21 March 2007)
Frank Vibert, "The European Union in 2057"
(22 March 2007)
George Schöpflin, "The European Union's troubled birthday"
(23 March 2007)
Mats Engström, "Europe's green power" (26 March 2007)
To avoid the sensibilities of some EU governments neither the "f" word (federalism) nor the "c" word ("constitution") were mentioned. To that extent the so-called European Union constitutional treaty- agreed by all twenty-five of the (then) EU member-states in October 2004 - is dead if not formally interred. However almost all of the actual, substantive changes to the way the EU functions - envisaged in the "constitution" - will now reappear at the heart of the "renewal" of the institutions.
That will entail, among other reforms, a raft of measures: a further extension to decision-making by majority vote (and thus a modest further reduction in the national veto); a new system of determining a majority in the council of ministers that gives greater weight to the size of populations; the appointment of a full-time president of the council of ministers for a two-and-a-half year period; a further extension of the powers of the directly elected European parliament to hold the executive (primarily the commission) to account; the appointment of an EU foreign minister; and the creation of an embryo of a European diplomatic service.
The detail still has to be worked out over the next six to eighteen months. At the EU summit on 21-22 June which marks the end of the current German presidency and its transfer to Portugal, the hope is that enough of the above programme can be accepted to make a formal agreement possible by the time Portugal's six-month presidency passes to Slovenia in December. Indeed there appears to be near universal support (including even in the normally recalcitrant United Kingdom) for adding two new areas to the EU's responsibility - climate change and energy.
The optimists also hope that the tricky issues around ratification of the new treaty in all twenty-seven member-states will be completed in time for the new arrangements to kick in by June 2009 when the next election to the European parliament will be held and a new commission put in place.
The springtime of reform
One important reason for the new optimism of the European reformers is that most of them are ready to abandon the notion of a "constitutional" treaty and, instead, implement the decision making changes by way of amendment to the existing Nice treaty, agreed at the December 2000 summit. This means that the ambitious project of unifying all the existing EU treaties into one comprehensive, constitutional type of agreement might be left for the future. Some look towards 2015 when the key decisions on what will almost certainly be the final enlargement of the European Union may have to be taken if promises to the countries of the western Balkans and maybe Turkey are to be honoured. At this point a fully fledged constitution may be unavoidable because of the sheer scale and complexity involved in the governance of an EU with thirty-five or more members.
Needless to say many, daunting, pitfalls remain on the road to Lisbon and beyond. Inveterate Eurosceptics and Europhobe populists will dismiss the notion of a refoundation of the EU as trickery. But provided the package of changes can be made to appear low key, the more sceptical governments may decide they can get approval through a parliamentary vote rather than by means of a referendum. They have seen how - as in France and the Netherlands- European referenda can be hijacked by those who want to use them for another purpose: to punish national governments for unpopular policies unrelated to the issues in an EU treaty.
John Palmer is a member of the governing board of the European Policy Centre
Also by John Palmer in openDemocracy:
"After France: Europe's route from wreckage" (May 2005)
"The 'nation'-state is not enough"
(December 2005)
"The levels of democracy"
(January 2006)
"Europe's enlargement problem"
(23 May 2006)
"Europe's foreign policy: saying 'no' to the US?"
(12 September 2006)
"A Commonwealth for Europe"
(11 October 2006)
"Europe won't go away"
(6 February 2007)
"Germany and Europe: the pull of unity"
(16 February 2007)
The grit in London'e eye
Although the current, rightwing Czech and Polish governments would prefer to delay the planned institutional reforms until after 2009, they no longer threaten a veto. Denmark and Sweden seem likely to approve the new approach. British government ministers want to keep the decision-making timetable as far away as possible from a likely general election in late 2009 or 2010. They might therefore try and get early parliamentary approval for what they would present as minimal, "common sense" changes to the way the EU functions.
Britain was - for once - in the vanguard of those asking for tougher EU laws on carbon emissions, and a Labour government (probably led by Gordon Brown after Tony Blair's departure from the scene) may calculate it could win a convincing parliamentary majority with support from the Liberal Democrats and even some of the new and more green-oriented Conservatives.
London is likely to take a belligerent stance on two main issues. The first is not to call the new EU foreign minister by that title. However a rose by any other name will smell as sweet to those who want to see the European Union launch a fully fledged independent foreign, security and defence policy - including a willingness to part company where necessary with Washington on issues such as Iraq, Iran, Palestine and Afghanistan.
Second, the British may demand the scrapping of the charter of fundamental rights which was an intrinsic part of the draft constitutional treaty. Although it only refers to social, labour and other rights in the context of decisions taken at the EU (not the national) level, the more bellicose sections of Britain's employers have been crying "the end of the world is nigh". Such a retreat would be completely unjustified given the fact that the European Court of Justice can still rule on some of these issues under existing treaties. It would also inflame those in France who believe European integration is a means of pursuing neo-liberal economic and social policies rather than the truth, which is that it is the means of constraining neo-liberalism with policies of social cohesion and sustainable development.
A bigger problem may lie with the great majority of EU countries - eighteen of which have already ratified the constitutional treaty (two of them by referendum). These eighteen ask - with justification - why they and not the two "no"-voting states should be asked to make the concessions. What is sure is that the time is overdue to abolish the requirement of unanimity every time reforms have to be made to the way the EU functions. It is already nonsense with twenty-seven states and will be suicidal with thirty or more.
An important provision of the old treaty was the future election of presidents of the European commission through the European parliament. It is not generally appreciated that - if they can take their courage in their hands - the still evolving European political parties can put their power to elect the commission president in the hands of voters - where it rightly belongs. What they should do now is go to the electorate in 2009 not only with clear cut alternative programmes for the future course of the union but also with their proposed candidates for the commission presidency. They do not need treaty changes to take that initiative.
A key factor in deciding whether the cause of European institutional reform succeeds will be the outcome of the French presidential election in April-May 2007. This will take place only a few weeks before the crucial European council summit in Brussels in June. It will not be surprising if attention in the next few months focuses more on what is going to happen in Paris than in Brussels, Berlin, London or elsewhere.
, 
Comments
China shifts to euros for Iran oil
Last updated: 27-Mar-07 06:47 BST
http://business.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=474362007
BEIJING (Reuters) - China�s state-run Zhuhai Zhenrong Corp, the biggest buyer of Iranian crude worldwide, began paying for its oil in euros late last year as Tehran moves to diversify its foreign reserves away from U.S. dollars. US Ignores Iran, Iran Stops Using US Dollar
28.03.2007 13:01
http://www.neftegaz.ru/english/lenta/show.php?id=69797
Iran is planning to stop using the U.S. dollar to price oil, with less than half of its oil income now paid in the U.S. currency, Iran�s central bank governor said [on the sidelines of the Islamic finance forum in Kuala Lumpur]
Can you see the euro team up with the Islamic Gold Dinar, the gold yuan, the gold rupee, and the gold yen?
I'm sure you can.
Can we really afford more now that the United States are really sinking into the 2007 � very great depression �, with a tipping point of the global systemic crisis coming up in April 2007?
http://www.europe2020.org/spip.php?article424&lang=en
Ivo Cerckel de Siquijor
philmigrator@yahoo.com
documents the organizational changes necessary for the successful functioning of the EU institutions.
Following is the Vision and Purpose that will guide the EU for the next 50 years fulfilling the EU's historcial destiny:
THE EU�S DESTINY: A EUROPE WITHOUT BORDERS
A POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SECURITY MASTERPLAN FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
The EU has brought 50 years of peace and security to Europe. In the 36 years between 1914 and 1945 110,000,000 million Europeans were killed, thousands of cities destroyed and entire nations laid waste. There isn�t a European alive today who shouldn�t get down on their knees and give thanks to the courage and vision, the original founders showed by the creation of the EU. For the nations of Germany, France, Italy etc to set aside hundreds of years of war, death and destruction to create a new country called The European Union was indeed one of the most courageous and visionary acts in human history.
The present Europeans � their descendents � must find the same vision and courage to bring all the European people�s into the European national family � to complete the national destiny of Europe: A Europe Without Divisions: A Europe Without Borders.
Following is a Political, Economic, and Security Masterplan for the EU�s future generations:
1. A Special Political and Economic Relationship between the EU and Russia.
2. Letters of Invitation for EU Membership sent to the European Nations of Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, and the Balkan states. As these countries are going through the 15 year process of completing the 35 chapters necessary to become full members of the EU � they would be immediately incorporated into a free trade zone starting an economic revolution (see 3).
3. Creation of a free trade zone including EU, Russia, Balkans, Ukraine, Moldovia, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the 5 Stan states, and Mongolia.
4. Expanding the NAFTA free trade zone westward and joining it to the EU and the above free trade zone creating an economic giant of 1.4 billion people
5. The EU would reduce its trade deficit with China by 10% a year over 10 years shifting 150 billion euros of trade ( the amount of the trade surplus China presently has with the EU) (go to www.chinademocracy.net) into the above free trade zone dramatically reducing the cost of accession of these countries into the EU.
6. The Brussels Parliament to be divided into 2 tiers of nations: Those nations seeking closer political and economic integration and all the other members. All laws affecting the whole EU would be voted on by the entire assembly. Those laws affecting the countries seeking greater integration to be voted on only by the parliamentarians from these countries.
7. A plan to bring Turkey into the EU.
8. Proposal of a Special Relationship for Iraqi Kurdistan.
9. A Special Political and Economic Partnership offered to the Israeli and Palestine peoples.
For a more detailed explanation of these proposals go to: www.eudemocracy.net
THE EU AND RUSSIA
There can be no doubt that President Putin is behind the recent assassinations in Moscow and London. His is the mind that is directing these evil acts with total deniability, of course. What Putin has established in the Kremlin is a Murder Inc. mafia controlling total political and economic power. Death squads are roaming out from the Kremlin. Anyone who threatens � this power � is eliminated. Just as Russia was about to emerge from 1000 years of darkness, into the light of democratic freedom - Putin and his KGB gang has plunged his people back into the abyss. Quoting the famous Russian writer Vladimir Sorokin �Germans, Frenchmen and Englishmen can say of themselves: "I am the state." I cannot say that. In Russia only the people in the Kremlin can say that. All other citizens are nothing more than human material with which they can do all kinds of things.� This is the Russia, Putin has created. An immoral, lawless wasteland. He is a traitor to his country. He is a traitor to his people.
However all is not yet lost for the EU or the Russian people. The EU must go directly to the Russian people and offer them a different vision of their future � a future of a strong democratic Russia - economically and politically. The success of the EU experiment is absolutely essential for Russia's economic future. A successful and peaceful democratic transformation of Russia is absolutely essential for the EU�s economic future. A true symbyonic relationship. A democratic Russia in an alliance with the EU would create a powerful and stabilizating force for world peace.
It is important to the EU that Russia not be isolated but brought into the European family of nations as a full and equal partner. It was Putin who once stated that he wanted - A Europe WITHOUT BORDERS. The EU must now take Putin up on his offer. The EU must explain to the Russian people that because of the expansion of NATIO and the EU for the first time in a thousand years - Russia is free from invasion from the West. Russian mothers no longer have to bury their sons by the millions due to invasion or leave their dead bodies on European battlefields due to their government alliances with Western countries.
The expansion of the EU through the Enlargement Process and the creation of a Special Free Trade Zone including a privileged partnership with Russia is the only way to guarantee freedom and democracy for Russia and Central Asia and oil/gas supply security for Europe.
THE EUROPEAN AND RUSSIAN DESTINY: DEMOCRACY
The national security of the EU and Russia can only be guaranteed by all countries adopting democracy and the rule of law. Democracies don�t fight other brother democracies. Their people would rather drink beer then make war. Democracy can only be spread through example and formulation of alliances. Its implementation aided through trade, economic aid, and the creation of free trade blocks - never though the use of force. Employing the sword to spread democracy is a true oxymoron.
The EU is one of the most important entities to the success of democracy. Europe is building a country composed of independent nation states. This mission is truly heroic and historic. One of the great success stories in the history of democracy was the EU accession of 10 former Eastern European nations in 2004. One hundred million people brought home to Europe as free and democratic peoples. After two world wars and the death of 110 million people in the space of 30 years � this was a remarkable achievement.
Unfortunately the EU has recently lost its way. The future of both Russia and the EU depends on the successful completion of the European experiment. Brussels in partnership with a democratic Russia must put together an action plan to complete EU expansion and create a free trade zone of democratic nations stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Arctic to the Antarctic (2.4 billion people.) The EU and Russia must fulfill their common destiny � a democratic partnership.
EU Membership Declaration
All nations bordering the EU have a moral right to join provided they meet one of the following 3 criteria:
1. European Country
2. European nation.
3. European people.
Brussels sends letters of invitation to Russia, Belorussia, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia - the Balkan States of Serbia, Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Bosnia. These letters of invitation start a 15 year process of moving these nations through the 35 chapters of the legal accession requirements. The final accession agreement with each country will depend on Europe�s economic and political status in 2021. No promises. No guarantees. By placing each of these countries on a path to membership, there will be an immediate flowering of democracy and economy in all these states. Brussels does not have the moral right to deny any of these countries entry (unless they fail in the 35 chapter process). Ukrainians are as European as the French or Germans. To leave the Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova without access to Europe - forcing them into a Russian Empire and loss of their national sovereignty would be a criminal act equal to Munich or the selling out of Eastern Europe to Stalin and the Soviets. A black stain on future European history.
Obviously, Russia will not join the EU. However in the letter of invitation to Russia, Europe should also offer a Super Special Relationship incorporating Russia not only into a NAFTA style free trade agreement but a special political and economic partnership bringing it as a major player into the very heart of Europe. Russia would be allowed to elect delegates to the European Parliament based on 25/40% of its total allotment as if it was a full fledged member. These delegates would participate in all committees, vote on all issues, but with no veto power. Russia cannot and must not be isolated by the West. A full and equal partnership between Russia and the EU must be offered to the Russian people. In return Russia must democratize its political institutions. If the Russian government refuses then Russia will not be able to complain when other nations decide to join. And the EU leaves the offer on the table as a demonstration to the Russian people of a different vision their economic and political future � a vision in direct conflict with Putin�s national repression and domination of its Near Abroad neighbors through energy blackmail.
The strategy is for Brussels to offer Russia an equal partnership in a free trade zone incorporating the Ukraine, Turkey, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the 5 Stan states and Mongolia. This free trade zone would then be joined to NAFTA ( US/Canada/Mexico) creating an economic giant of 1.4 billion people. This giant is then expanded to include South and Central America (2.4 billion). In this free trade zone, Russia, the Stan states, Ukraine, Turkey etc are granted full access to Western markets for trade, investment and technology. The EU is guaranteed energy security � the very essence of the NAFTA Agreement between Canada and the United States. (Canada was given access to the US market and in return Canada guaranteed the US - energy security,)
Through this free trade alliance with guaranteed access to the EU and NAFTA - the Russian economy will be able to break the petrol strangle hold Gasprom etc have over the economy. Growth in the other economic sectors of the Russian economy with access to a market of 1.4 billion plus people will explode.
In this way a Europe without borders living in peace and security can be created stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
EU AND THE DEMOCRATIZATION OF GLOBALIZATION
The West must move immediately to dramatically correct the massive trade imbalances that they have allowed China to accumulate. This means the reallocation of $ 350 billion of production out of China and into third world democratic countries. This would be done over a 10 year period i.e. 35 billion/year. (The United States presently sells $28 billion to China and imports $228billion � a whopping $200 billion deficit. A real sucker�s deal if there ever was one. A sucker�s deal that is devastating the wages and economic future of the American Middle Class. The EU has a deficit of $150 billion. Sucker number 2.) These countries include Mexico, Central and South America, India, and Africa where the US $200 billion share would be shifted. The EU $150 billion - to Romania, Bulgaria, the Balkans, Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia the 5 Stan States. The only stipulation is that these countries must purchase an equivalent amount of high end production from the US and the EU to modernize their economies. In this way everybody wins. The US/EU dramatically reduces their trade deficit. The $200 billion coming back into the US/EU economy in high end technology jobs translates into an $800 billion economic bonanza. An economic bonanza for the besieged Middle Classes of both the US and EU. The benefits of Globalization goes to the needy hard working poor of democratic nations. And the hard working down trodden Middle Classes of the West. The pouring of its trade imbalance with China by the EU into its Near Abroad will dramatically shift the balance of power to democratic forces of the Ukraine, Turkey, the Stan States etc and drastically reduce the costs of the EU eventually absorbing these counties as member states. Globalization becomes a vehicle not to enrich one greedy, criminal state but to benefit the entire third world.
As previously explained - the transfer of trade wealth from the West to the third world and spreading it around comes back to the West through the purchase of high end technology to be used to modernize these third world countries. Trade becomes a tool to spread freedom and democracy - The Democratization of Globalization.
EU, RUSSIA and TURKEY
Another democratic cornerstone of the EU is Turkey�s accession to Europe. It is absolutely essential to the national security of both EU and Russia that Turkey join the European Union. The last thing that the EU and Russia want is a destabilized Turkey � again the Sick Man of Europe � turning to nationalism and Islamic extremism. However we must be honest right from the start � there is no way Turkey will be allowed to join the EU unless a different approach is employed by both sides.
This is the defining moment in Turkish history. Turkey stands at a crossroad � completing its historical move to the West started by Kemal Ataturk in the 1920�s or away from the West and toward political Islam. We must do everything to ensure a Western future for Turkey.
Turkey must first of all realize that even if it was a 99.9% Christian country, the EU would still not want it as a member. Europe suffers from expansion fatigue. A phony disease designed by European politicians to keep others from sharing the economic fruits and power of the EU. After 9/11 and the bombings in Spain and London, and given that Turkey is 99% Moslem this sentiment has only increased. People are scared. Europe fears millions of poor, conservative, uneducated masses pouring across its borders and living on its streets, in its subway systems. Self segregating ghettos. Unwilling to integrate. Hostile to their new homelands. A European Nightmare.
In order to overcome this fear, the following strategy should be implemented:
Turks have to realize that joining the EU involves the Europeanization of Turkey not the Turkization of Europe. A long road started by Ataturk completing the Westernization and secularization of Turkey. Political Islam is rejected.
While Turkey is fulfilling its membership requirements, (an estimated 15 year process) both governments start an educational program whereby every class/ school in Turkey has a corresponding class/school in France, Germany, Austria and Netherlands. In this way through the internet and other means of communication - each Turkey child attending school has a soul mate of similar age in Europe to correspond and grow up with. At least once during the next 15 years, both governments fund entire schools from Turkey traveling to Europe to meet their pen pals and vice versa.
Secondly, Turkey signs the Universal Declaration Of Religious Rights and Freedoms � renouncing all violence in religion, total equality of sexes, religious freedom, equality of all mankind, intellectual freedom and democratic rule of law. (For this declaration go to: www.godofreason.com) Both governments put together a civics class lecture explaining the EU structure, laws, history (European and Turkey), religious non violence, women rights etc. to be taught from first grade thru university to all students.
Upon completion of the 35 chapters, Turkey joins Europe but with the stipulation that the right of migration will be considered only when Turkey�s GDP grows to 85% of the old 15 member states and unemployment is reduced to 9%. A face saving mechanism for both sides. Studies have shown that very few people want to leave their homes unless forced to by a lack of economic opportunity. In a prosperous economy with income and unemployment levels at the stated criteria very few Turks will migrate to Europe. Upon joining - Turkey�s economy will boom and over time rise to a GDP rivaling the original founders. In the meantime, as Europe enters an era of massive labor shortages due to population decline, then Turks with skills needed by industry could apply on a priority basis for special working visas. Only in this way will Turkey be allowed to join. The peoples of France, Austria and the Netherlands who oppose Turkey�s entry should be persuaded by the above arrangement. Turkey joins Brussels with all the rights of membership. The feared right of migration is formalized later when GDP and unemployment criteria are met. By that time very few will want to leave except to visit.
The same formula to be employed for the Ukraine, Georgia etc. to show full equality of treatment.
Finally, to help Turkey resolve its Kurdish minority crisis, the EU sends a delegation to the Kurdish areas of Turkey to explain to them what a European future means and their place in a united democratic Turkey where all their rights are guaranteed. Allocates funds to re- build entire communities ravaged by civil war. (Over one million Kurds were made homeless.) An EU/ Turkey delegation travels to Kurdistan and offers the Kurds - a Special Relationship in Europe just short of actual membership - a special autonomous status - not nation state status. Kurdistan is guaranteed trade access, economic assistance, employment opportunities, education and technology � in short all the benefits of belonging to the EU. In return, they must implement freedom and democracy to all citizens including the Turkmen and Arabs, agree to share the oil wealth of Kurkik and if Iraq does not break apart, then the oil wealth of Kurdistan. And complete the 35 chapters. End the safe haven in the Kurdish mountains for both Kurdish rebels from Turkey and Iran. This special relationship will guarantee the future of Kurds. And remove a big thorn from Turkey�s political life. In this way the EU stabilizes both Turkey and Northern Iraq.
There can be no political correctness applied to Turkey�s membership bid. They must complete all the 35 chapters. And Turks keep their Secular Democratic Republic. In return the EU allows Turkey to join.
THE EU AND THE PALESTINIANS
It is absolutely essential that a solution be found to the Israeli � Palestine conflict. This conflict is a cancer that eats away at the Middle East. The EU has an historical opportunity to bring it to an end. Just as the EU brings freedom and democracy - a European future to the Kurds - so to the EU can bring a European future to Israel and Palestine.
The EU offers both Israeli and Palestinians - a Super Special Relationship � all the benefits of membership except a veto power. Businessmen from both countries will enjoy full access to the EU market - the people of both countries - full access to political institutions, technology, educational institutions, funding, employment etc.
In return, the Palestinians must:
1. Recognize Israel.
2. Cease all attacks.
3. Complete all the 35 chapters.
4. Eventually Jews allowed to live in the West Bank.
Israel must:
1. Withdraw all forces from the West Bank.
2. Dismantle all settlements except the 2 large ones adjacent to the wall.
3. Stop all building in Jerusalem Palestinian areas.
4. Allow East Jerusalem to be Palestinian Capital.
5. Complete all 35 chapters.
6. Eventually Palestinians allowed to live in Israel. (quid pro quo basis)
In order to ensure that terrorists do not smuggle 15,000 rockets into West Bank Cities, the EU/Natio and UN send an army of 10,000 to both the West Bank and Gaza Strip to secure the borders. Although the diehards will never give up their aim of destroying Israel � the Palestinian people by joining with Europe are guaranteeing the future of their children. Businessmen can produce goods and services for a market, not of 4 million but of 500 million and a free trade zone of 1.4 /2.4 billion (3 billion with the Middle East Free Trade Zone). With no violence, the Gaza Strip could become a mini Beirut with multi - billion European investments in tourism and hotels. Its future guaranteed. The Palestinians would have to be mad not to jump at this EU OPPORTUNITY. If they do not then screw them. No more money. No more aid. IT�S TIME FOR TOUGH LOVE PALESTINIAN STYLE.
A peace settlement engineered by the EU dramatically alters the war on terror - the relationship between the West and Islam and democracy throughout the Arab world. The EU takes its historical place in World History.
Time for leadership.
Time for historical greatness.
Time for vision.
CONTACT
Larry Houle
E-mail: intermedusa@yahoo.com
Post new comment