FLOP EUROPEAN

THE EUROPEAN UNION

Paloma Casillas Baldrs

27 members, 23 official languages, and one common currency. This is what we call the European Union. But lately the notion of union has faded away as France and Germany reveal themselves as an efficient double act in the leadership of Europe. The EU is rooted in the idea of a political and economical alliance to maintain peace and stability after the Second World War. From its six original founders (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands) the EU developed and new members were welcomed. When it reached the current 27 members, it became obvious that if the EU was to be the new world power it intended to, its members should start to unite forces and act as one. In a group, there are leaders and followers. In fact, thats the essence of democracy itself: the followers (citizens) choose their leaders (politicians). This leader-follower relationship is easy to maintain the smaller the community is. When you are talking about a territory that covers over 4 km2, with an annual GDP bigger than that of the United States (12,268,387 million in 2010), and a population of 495 million inhabitants, these rules of leadership become tricky. While citizens can still vote to choose their representatives, once they are in charge its much more difficult to implement policies and reach and understanding amongst the different groups in parliament, precisely because this Parliament is extremely big. Cultural, economic and political differences arise, and thats when cracks appear. Specially, in a tough economic climate. France and Germany have stepped up as the saviours of the EU, and when they say white, no one is allowed to say black. EU President Van Rompy declared last November We can not have a common currency, common monetary policy, while leaving the rest to the States concerned. Yet that's what we have experienced. We need consistency in policies and institutions at the European level". Following these statement, Belgian newspaper Le Soir featured a cartoon where Merkel and Sarkozy walked Van Rompuy, as if he was a dog. This refects Europes reality: it has a President de iure but, de facto, Merkel and SArkozy are the decision makers.

PALOMA CASILLAS BALDRS

The eurozone crisis has revealed the true colours of its. The nickname PIGS for the (Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain) reflects a sort of underlying division within Europe: rich and poor, powerful and submissive, main characters and supporting actors. If Europe aspires to act as a powerful, united group, it needs more than a common currency (which, in fact, is not that common since 10 members of the EU arent part of the eurozone). EU policies need to be the result of a consensus within the countries, need to serve the common good, need to be based on solidarity and protection to its members, and, above all, need to be useful in practice. European Central Bank President, Mario Draghi, asks Where is the implementation of these long-standing decisions?. If the European Parliamnt issues laws, but these arent enforced because they clash with local regulations, what is the point? American newsoutlet The Wall Street Journal wrote in November: One thing is certain: The euro cannot survive without a major change in the governance structure of the euro zone. And WSJ is not alone. The Lisbon Treaty, signed in 2007 and designed to gbring stability to the European Union, is now outdated in opinion of El Pais, that believes that its no longer useful to solve its (Europes) immediate needs. But if we take into account that this treaty was supposed to fill in the gap left by the unsuccessful European Constitution (which was never fully approved), what has gone wrong? Who is responsible for the lack of a functional structure in the EU? Last November an article by german newspaper Der Spiegel, reflected on philosopher Jrgen Habermass intention of saving the EU. But he doesnt refer only to European institutions, but appeals to European citizens directly: "The citizens of each individual country, who until now have had to accept how responsibilities have been reassigned across sovereign borders, could as European citizens bring their democratic influence to bear on the governments that are currently acting within a constitutional gray area." Another article in this same newspaper claims that all of Europe is stuck in a crisis of legitimacy. The democratic credibility of the European project was intact as long as it was successful, and as long as citizens could marvel at - or, like the Spaniards, benefit from - the added value of the decisions being made above their heads. As European citizens we shouldnt be conformist and act as grown ups. Europe lives in a permanent teenagehood, and its incomplete architecture (as WSJ puts it) is an

PALOMA CASILLAS BALDRS

obstacle in the development into a reasonable, well-behaved adult. Until this happens, Europe as a concept will continue to be a utopia.

PALOMA CASILLAS BALDRS