Six Answers to re-define the political future of the European Union

The double Non-Nee against the ratification of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe in France and the Netherlands respectively, has hit the heart of the most optimistic Europeans, opening a new critical conjuncture for the political project. Member States, EU institutions and civil society are facing a clear challenge: How do Europeans could feel themselves citizens of Europe? Or, which is the same: How does EU citizenship could run at the speed of the evolution of the EU institutions (From the ECB to the EU Parliament)? The whole picture of the integration process is complicated: there is no consensus on the basis of many policies resulting from the respect of EU Directives due to the lack of information; the basics on democracy and single market rules are still weak among the citizens; the Eurozone’s performance on competitiveness is relatively weak and the monetary policy is ambiguous for the real interests of SMEs and families. In other words, there were many points to believe that not only French but Dutch had in mind several elements to reject the Constitution. Indeed, it does not mean that national factors influenced more than it was imagined in Brussels, but the EU context helped enormously to make that “No” a reality. In fact, there are two forgotten dimensions of public politics that are undermining the reinforcement of an extended democracy for 450 million inhabitants: local empowerment (regions) and horizontal cooperation. Although the way’s to a common currency (from the treaty of Maastricht to the inauguration of the Eurozone in February 2002) and the so-called “Big Bang enlargement” (May 2004) had projected that Europe would become an stronger player in global issues, the most relevant outcome has been an exponential expansion of deficit of governance. This deficit is paradoxically contrary to the 1970s public “overload” that forecasted the trilateral summit thirty years ago. The current causes are associated with a poor and inefficiency budget (that is almost twenty times less the US Federal one) by which the 70% are located to support the CAP’s Policy. Moreover, the revised Lisbon’s Strategy in 2005 seems not be compatible with the Stability Pact and the interests rates lever are depending on one particular factor: inflation media index of 12 economies. Nonetheless, the history of the EU is based on many momentums of positive-negative forces. The dialectics (tension/creation) have provided a continuity to the roots of our institutions. This cycle of negative patterns could become the starting point for a new wave of growth and substantial cooperation. Europe has shown this mysteries and unique capacity to stand up and walk through the path of welfare. This time we need the full support of the heart of the project, the citizenship, that are the main subject of this report.