13/10/2004 10:01:34 am
European Union or OECD+? Yesterday, I participated in a panel debate at the annual summit of the Pan-European Movement. The debate became an interesting dicussion about several issues of great importance for Europe in the long run. I pointed out, among other things, that one positive aspect of the enlargement is that the least common denominator between the member countries gets smaller. That implies that the EU will have to focus more on its core mission: to tear down borders and increase freedom and mobility - not to build new social systems. I also argued that it is highly likely that the referendums in several countries about the proposed Constitution will create the two-speed Europe that has been dicussed for years. A Europe where some have the new Constituion and some in the periphery will use the Nice Treaty. In the panel the most renowned EU journalist in the country, Rolf Gustavsson of Svenska Dagbladet, also participated. His interpretation of Jacques Chirac lately is that he acknowledges that there will be a two-speed Europe and that he wants to build a core co-operation based on the Euro Zone. Mr Gustavsson also pointed out that one great problem today in the EU is the tendency to replace the rule of law with various political deals. One example is the handling of the stability pact, another that the German government continues to subsidise industry despite the fact that it is prohibited in the internal market. This, he concludes, creates a risk that the unique foundation of the EU as an international co-operation based on the rule of law falls apart and is replaced by a weak OECD+. That must not happen; the EU should focus on its core mission but that core must be based on the rule of law.