10.15.07
General Political Resolution
Dear delegates, dear JEF friends
here the General Political Resolution supported by all EB and VP candidates. We hope it is a useful basis for our political debate in the Congress.
Federalist Greetings
Samuele Pii
*******************************
Introduction – General Political Analysis Since the end of the Cold War, symbolised by the fall of the Berlin Wall and the peaceful revolution in the countries of Eastern Europe, the world has become a more multipolar place. Terrorist threats however have done everything else than making it a safer place.As the world’s oldest democracy, the United States of America is finding itself in a state of political crisis. Basic human and citizen rights guaranteed by the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights have become diluted, civil liberties have suffered and the country is torn apart by a war in Iraq that has cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent human beings.Outside of Europe, many people expect the European Union to take over a more important role to face the challenges of security, the environment, and the gap between rich and poor countries.That is why there is the need of a strong Europe that promotes peace and acts together with the United Nations for stability, democracy, and a sustainable development.The principle of federalism and the model of European integration are clear and present examples that show how sustainable peace and cooperation among nations could be realised for all people around the world.The economies of China and India have gradually opened to the rest of the world, their hard-working people are steadily catching up with the wealth and prosperity that the US and large parts of Europe have gained and experienced since the end of World War II.Europe therefore has to live up to the expectations of its citizens and of the rest of the world in making a significant step to curbing the pollution of the atmosphere. It must convince other nations to join the global endeavour to lower emissions of greenhouse gases in order to stop global warming and prevent a fatal climate change. Short run – From the Reform Treaty to the 2009 European Elections Since 2000, the European Union has almost reached the adoption of a constitution for the third time in history. In this process, national governments have been both an instrument and an obstacle. A season of hope started between 2000 and 2005. After the disappointing result of the European Council in Nice, the Laeken declaration called a Convention on the Future of Europe, where representatives of governments worked out reform proposals together with representatives of European institutions as well as members of national parliaments and the European parliament. Despite a consensus-based working method and the arrival of foreign ministers, the Convention presented a single project of clearly constitutional nature. After having been amended by an intergovernmental conference, the “Project Establishing a Constitution for Europe” was signed in Rome on October 29th, 2004 by all the member-states of the European Union. However, after the rejection of the proposal in the referenda held in France and the Netherlands, some countries decided to take a break for reflection. JEF Europe denounces the suspension of the ratification process of the constitution project as a decision against the fundamental principle of international law: pacta sunt servanda! Furthermore, we denounce the choice of eighteen countries that did not defend the constitution project despite they had already ratified it in representation of the majority of population and member-states of the E.U. The European Union cannot continue to be a hostage of one or two countries. In order to surpass the unanimity rule, it will be necessary to let citizens speak in the future.JEF Europe is concerned by the current mistrust of governments towards the European project. It is sufficient to compare the Schuman declaration with the conclusions of the European Council of last June to understand how governments are now an obstacle to European integration.The new Reform Treaty proposal is the outcome of this political context. Denouncing the non-democratic method adopted to prepare the mandate of the IGC, we consider that if the RT was adopted, it would not solve the structural problems of the Union. A proof of this is the proposal made by the French president Nicolas Sarkozy to convoke a “wise people’s committee” to reflect on the future of the E.U. in 2020. Although we recognize some institutional innovations of the Reform Treaty, we consider that it is not the task of JEF Europe to promote its ratification. The European elections of 2009 represent a great occasion for a meeting between citizens and political forces that JEF Europe cannot miss. The relaunch of the constitutional perspective has to start from citizens. We invite European parties to create trans-national lists and to appoint their candidates to the presidency of the Commission. Moreover, we propose to compile a “Federal Agenda for a European Government” that presents proposals to implement as governmental acts. To reach this goal, we propose to open a phase of discussion internal and external to JEF. We believe that the 2009 European elections are the right moment to relaunch the image and the political message of our organization. We aspire to be spokespeople of a “new generation of young Europeans.” Medium Run – Relaunch of the Constitution After the Reform Treaty it will be necessary to reopen the constitutional process. The reasons for having a European constitution are still valid and the fears of governments towards European symbols are not justified. In the medium run we are confident that the new elected Parliament will take a new constitutional initiative. The EP will have to formulate reform proposals while asking to call a Constituent Assembly and indicating what to do in case of the absence of unanimity in the ratification process. The future of Europe cannot be entrusted to a “wise people’s committee.” Only an elected Constituent Assembly with voting power could have the legitimacy to decide on our Europe. In this perspective, it could be very useful to relaunch the message of the European referendum campaign: “Let the European people decide!” We consider it crucial to prepare at once a network between political forces and the civil society without which a future campaign for a true federal constitution approved by citizens through a European referendum could not be successful. We believe that a large majority of Europeans is in favour of a more united and stronger Europe. A New Generation for a United Europe The next political challenges also demand some internal changes in our organization. In order to relaunch JEF, it is necessary to explore new paths, to invent new solutions. In order to ensure a future to JEF, we have to share our work and promote tools to cooperate at each level. At the same time, we think about an open-minded JEF that is able to speak to other young people around the planet. There is no “Europe of results” without a vision. We offer our vision. Let’s continue to work in this perspective to honour the memory of Altiero Spinelli in the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth and to prepare ourselves together to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the treaties of Rome. We are the new generation for a United Europe.
Philippe said,
October 15, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Dear all,
Thank you for sharing this message. Obviously there went a lot of praiseworthy work in it, however, I am unable to hide my disappointment because of the lack of federalist principles and the staggering negligence of the citizen. This resolution rather creates an image of JEF as an ideological talking machinery that lost its roots with the real world.
1) The message is too demagogic.
- I don’t know exactly with which criteria you are counting but as far as I know we had not 3 but just 1 clear constitutional project.
- The argument “pacta sunt servanda” is totally out of order as there has not been any treaty that came into force yet – how could it then possibly have been violated? We do not want governments to be able to conclude binding international treaties without parliamentary back-up at home, do we?
I thus reverse the argument by saying that governments would have violated the “pacta sunt servanda” principle AND basic democratic standards if they had NOT abandoned the constitutional project, just because it has been directly rejected by the people of two principal countries and just because the Rome Treaties oblige ALL Member States to ratify modifications at home.
- The proposal of Sarkozy to convoke a “wise people’s committee” to reflect on the future of the EU has nothing to do with the level of democracy in the EU. Firstly, why making such a fuss over it as it has only been a proposal so far? Secondly, this committee would be merely consultative and would not have any binding power whatsoever. Moreover, it is nowadays trendy in the UN to convoke High-Level Panels and these proof to be very useful since they allow parliamentarians to pick up new concepts and creative ideas.
2) On the Reform Treaty.
How can you ever expect the Reform Treaty to solve all structural deficits if even the Constitution didn’t do much more? The point is that the Reform Treaty offers a step forward, which means that federalists automatically support it. According to my simple understanding of federalism, all people who do not advocate NOR act in the benefit of the gradual development of the EU can not call themselves genuine federalists anymore.
3) Why we need to campaign for the Reform Treaty.
- Because, like you proposed, we badly need to relaunch the image and political message of JEF. It would be a mistake to aim solely on and wait for the 2009 Parliamentary elections. It would be completely wrong to just “invite” or “ask” parties for transnational lists and candidacies for the Commission, not because these goals are not noble, but because the return on investment or effective follow-up on our proposals might turn out to be very low. And it would be totally disastrous “to open a phase of discussion internal and external to JEF” as we need to stop talking and reach out to the citizens NOW.
- Promoting the Reform Treaty in the streets has the advantage that we have a very clear topic we can focus on, we speak to and interact with people (not only parties or politicians) and we reaffirm our federalist message to the world.
- It is the best way to get the spirit back to JEF and surpass the burnout or apathy that some members are coping with. We need a big campaign again in favour of supranational ideals to revive the organisation at all levels.
Plus, it is the only way to convince new members to join us for the European cause, something we will obviously not attain when we address only politicians and keep moaning about the method instead of shifting our attention to the substance and to what a reformed EU would mean for the citizen and the rest of the world.
- And the best argument is evidently that it is our duty to communicate Europe to the public, let alone to actively promote it. Campaigning for the Reform Treaty implies more activities regarding the EU all across the
continent: debates, lectures and pub-chats in universities, trips to the institutions, objectively explaining the Reform Treaty on websites for all who is interested, and especially campaigning on the streets in the countries where a positive outcome cannot be taken for granted.
I apologise for this long e-mail, but I hope to spark more reactions than last time…
Federalist greetings,
Philippe
Philippe said,
October 17, 2007 at 12:47 am
Dear federalist friends,
I would very much like to provide you with some more arguments on why we should definitely campaign in favour of the Reform Treaty on ALL levels of our organisation and on how we should do this exactly.
Look, I wholeheartedly hope that we won’t be wasting a single minute in Copenhagen by nitpicking again about the Sherpa method. Firstly, the method was completely legitimate and it was a wonderful option to get the EU out of its shitty condition, though it is only tolerable for last resort and not to be repeated anymore in the future. Secondly, all this happened in the past! The political momentum is entirely different now and we must look to the future if we still want to call ourselves “a generation ahead”. After (or even together with) our campaign for the Reform Treaty, we focus on the 2009 EP elections, and it’s then up to the following Congress to make a first priority again of our basic demand for a new and fully democratic Convention that elaborates a federal Constitution, provided (!) that we would have succeed in getting the RT ratified of course. Otherwise, if we fail, we will be stuck in an even greater mess with the only result that we will see our Constitutional dream postponed again.
Now, let’s talk about the content please. We notice that the Reform Treaty is far from “falling short of the Constitution” or a “far cry from what we as federalists could have expected”, as it is almost precisely the same as the Constitution (about 90%). We campaigned for the Constitution and we will thus do exactly the same for the Reform Treaty.
Its only negative points are:
- no more “constitutional nature” or other state-like symbols
- opt-outs (opt-ins) for the UK (perhaps also Poland) and some delays in the implementation
And that’s about it. Come on, how can one possibly keep lamenting about mere cosmetic changes and minor shortcomings? These are not vital AT ALL for the future functioning of the EU.
On the contrary, in addition to the previous 5 arguments, I enlist here 5 new arguments as to why genuine federalists should automatically support this new Treaty. I’d say, don’t miss this opportunity to improve the transparency and democracy in the EU !!
- When the Council will be deciding on legislation it will meet in public (for the first time in history!)
- The treaty gives the European Parliament equal rights with the Council of Ministers in deciding on all parts of the EU budget, including the CAP
- A provision to enable a country to withdraw from the EU, which would finally wipe out the criticism that the EU is not legitimate enough as the people cannot choose whether to stay in or not
- 49 new (technical) topics to be decided by QMV in the future instead of unanimity, among them: humanitarian aid, the supervision and coordination of intellectual property rights protection and energy market liberalisation
- Strengthening the role of the national parliaments: 1) They get 8 weeks time to examine proposed legislation by the Commission, to better monitor JEF’s beloved principle of subsidiarity and 2) They get the explicit task of scrutinising the EU’s work in the area of freedom, security and justice
It would almost sound absurd if JEFers don’t jump for joy because of all this, wouldn’t it? My source is by the way a communication from the European Movement… at least one organisation that is already doing its utmost for the European cause.
If we don’t campaign for the Reform Treaty on all levels, we miss out a gigantic opportunity to improve the EU and explain it to the citizens, we will miss out a fresh, clear, rational and federalist strategy to rally all members of our organisation behind and recruit new members at the same time, and we will miss out a chance to manifest ourselves as reliable European frontrunners. We will feel deeply ashamed when we don’t campaign with all our strength and the Reform Treaty would be voted down somewhere, causing a new and unpredictable crisis.
If we do campaign for the Reform Treaty on all levels, we do exactly our duty, we do what federalists are expected to do, namely defending the gradual evolution and integration of the EU. It will most probably help us to solve part of the financial problem and gain new funds, as the European institutions will have an advantage in us communicating the RT to the public and campaigning for it in some of the delicate countries. I expect the EB of JEF-Europe to send out positive press-releases, to build-up a campaign website and to partly support some of the sections that are willing to travel abroad for the sake of promoting the RT. National sections are strongly invited to organise as many activities as possible concerning the Reform Treaty, which will bring in new members. And as soon as the 2009 EP elections are approaching, we link our campaign to further specific federalist demands in specific policy fields among MEPs and motivate the people on the street to go voting!! Our brand-new guiding principle being that: Convincing the citizens of the importance of the reformed EU will convince them to go voting in 2009 !!!
Any comments on these suggestions would be highly appreciated…
Many thanks in advance!
Yours,
Philippe