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 Europe in crisis – where do we go from here?

 June 2005

 Make Poverty History undoubtedly enjoys widespread support.  Equally, Gordon Brown’s debt relief plan for the poorest countries was on course to win international agreement – until President Bush recently poured cold water over it.

 That’s nothing new.  On many of today’s great issues – climate change, world poverty the Middle East, Iran, China – Britain is at odds with America and sharing common ground with fellow European countries.

 We often forget in Europe that far more unites us than divides us.  We share common values and aspirations.  We have far more influence acting together than alone.  The EU has brought peace, stability and prosperity, while the prospect of EU membership has stimulated major reforms in neighbouring countries.

 Yet, despite all this, the French and Dutch rejections of the Constitutional Treaty have thrown Europe into crisis.   To make matters worse, there’s no single reason for the “no” votes.   In Holland, exit pollsters were given twenty very different and often contradictory reasons why, many totally unconnected to the Constitution.

 Of all EU treaties, this one protects the powers of member states the most and the vast majority of people would happily endorse its values.  So why the crisis?  For me, the key moment came when President Chirac appeared before an audience of young people and failed to explain why Europe was important to them.  He belongs to a generation valuing the EU because it has brought peace and stability to a region previously ravaged by war. 

 All that is now taken for granted.  People have moved on.  Today’s generation wants to know how Europe can improve things.  Of course, the EU has delivered real benefits, from creating the world’s largest single market to cheap air travel.  The problem is, though, national governments like to take the credit when things go well, but blame Europe when things go badly.

 That’s why Europe became the whipping boy in the French and Dutch referenda.  So much of the “no” vote was about fear of globalisation, loss of influence and immigration.  Yet most of these issues can only be properly addressed when countries work together, rather than alone.

 Europe needs to define its purpose in the modern world. Instead of endless debates about process, we must focus on outcomes, especially Europe’s economic and political priorities - and apply some intellectual honesty into the bargain. 

 The French must realise that Europe is not an extension of France and that economic reform is not an Anglo-Saxon conspiracy, but essential for securing long-term prosperity.  Meanwhile, Britain has to stop frightening itself about a mythical European superstate and recognise that the EU compliments rather than undermines national sovereignty.

 Many will be enjoying the current crisis.  But a return to protectionism or a Europe at odds with itself would be against Britain’s interests.  We should also beware of the EU trying to muddle its way through this crisis.  That won’t give Europe’s economy the competitive edge it needs, nor provide the political leadership that is necessary for global security and prosperity.

                                                                    Gary Titley MEP

June 2005