Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-10-25-Speech-4-086"
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"en.20011025.1.4-086"2
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".
The fundamentalist terrorist attacks have not only destroyed the ‘twin towers’ in New York but also seem to have played a major part in demystifying two other ‘pillars’ on the eastern shores of the Atlantic: the common defence policy and the European foreign policy. The devastating success of this latest attack was helped by the theatrical contribution of certain European governments. Throwing aside years upon years of declarations of intention to define a European foreign policy and good proposals for military integration, they have raised their banners as ‘national powers’ without even having either any real power by themselves to address the world crisis or the credibility to ensure European security. The three-sided mini-summit, held an hour before the informal Summit of the Fifteen, was a demonstration of the collapse that has also hit Europe. The statements on fighting terrorism handed out for signing at the end of the informal Summit are worthless. We have be accustomed to reading wonderful final declarations for decades now, but these contradict the facts and create genuine bafflement about this ‘non-existent Europe’, which unites around statements and then vanishes immediately when it comes to operating and acting in unity to address the crises that threaten world peace.
Given these conditions, I believe the promotion of the European Union as a political entity is the principal task we need to address. The Ghent ‘triumvirate’, which did not even invite the High Representative for European foreign policy, did not have this objective, concerned as they were – and are – with fighting for their leadership or the next elections. One of them spoke of ‘a new leading role in foreign and defence policy for Germany’, forgetting to add – as has been the case for 56 years now, as an attentive leader writer pointed out – ‘within Europe’. Just an oversight as regards ‘precedents’, or clear national political will? This ‘triumvirate’ would not deserve any critical mention if there were not another triumvirate looming up on the horizon, a really heavyweight one this time, formed by the USA, Russia and the People's Republic of China. The Ghent triumvirate – ‘an affront to Italy and Europe,’ as Mr Prodi has said – with a Europe deprived of strength, will be a featherweight in the international ring and, what is more, will weaken the little bit of Europe that exists. In its place there should, instead, be a new, strong Europe, proud to be so, and seen as essential in maintaining regional balances of power.
The forthcoming European Council in Laeken must cancel out the ambiguities and contradictions found in Ghent. To achieve this goal, it must issue itself a momentous challenge: to turn words into deeds and initiate ‘enhanced cooperation’ in the sphere of a political Europe. This will also benefit economic and financial stability, because it would also correct the anomaly of a European central bank without a European government behind it. With the current situation in tatters, however, is such a challenge feasible? I cannot help thinking that the road of integration will lead to greater cohesion of the parties involved. 15 countries acting more cohesively in the area of security and defence – and therefore with a definite foreign policy – will, without doubt, be a much more effective force in the fight against international terrorism and in peacekeeping.
Having said that, and expressing a reservation about the ‘convention’ method for drawing up the institutional reform project, I vote for the resolution, in the hope that declarations will, at last, be followed up with deeds."@en1
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