Focus on a common European future
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 13, 2009 00:00
Here’s a test for readers: What does the European Parliament actually do? We could offer a prize for the right answer. Except that there isn’t one. For this legislature, with something on the order of 800 members, and two separate chambers in Brussels and Strasbourg, does nothing.
Formally, its lone function is rubber stamp approval of the budget of the European Commission. Surveys show most Europeans have little awareness of this legislature, most often confusing its membership with their own national legislatures. But it pays well, in a bizarre mechanism based on remuneration levels in members’ national parliaments. It provides employment for losers in elections to national legislatures. Frequent travel comes with per diem. And it provides a platform for members to talk. In reality, it is sort of a cross between the faux legislature of some place like North Korea and a very expensive think tank.
We don’t mean to be harsh. And we do actually believe that at some future date, when Europe’s leadership actually delivers the promise that true EU integration holds, that this body might have a contribution to make in economic, foreign and other policy realms. But that is certainly not the case today.
We bring this up only as background to the dismal commentary emanating from Europe’s leaders in the run-up to the elections to the European Parliament, which take place June 7. Europe’s economy is in tatters, unemployment is rising, education is several countries such as Italy is in a shambles, agriculture policy creates waste and environmental destruction, and a foreign policy does not exist. So what is the vision for the future offered into this campaign season by Germany’s Angela Merkel and France’s Nicolas Sarkozy?
Everything will get better, they explain, if we just keep Turkey out of the European Union. Said Merkel in comments we reported yesterday: "It makes no sense if there are ever more members, and we can't decide anything anymore. It is right that we say to people in the European election campaign É our common position is: a privileged partnership for Turkey, but no full membership."
Added Sarkozy: "Stop making vain promises to Turkey and study with it the creation of a big common economic and human space."
These are comments come from visionless leaders at a time of confusion and despair in Europe and are made in support of candidates for a meaningless legislature.
As the International Crisis Group’s Hugh Pope counseled, this brand of cheap politics is damaging. But it is Turkey that owns its quest to join the EU. Turkey can and will contribute far more to the union than it will take. Sarkozy and Merkel are not among the many European leaders who understand this.
With them we need to focus on the future of the EU and Turkey’s role within it. Let’s ignore this latest passing sideshow.
We don’t mean to be harsh. And we do actually believe that at some future date, when Europe’s leadership actually delivers the promise that true EU integration holds, that this body might have a contribution to make in economic, foreign and other policy realms. But that is certainly not the case today.
We bring this up only as background to the dismal commentary emanating from Europe’s leaders in the run-up to the elections to the European Parliament, which take place June 7. Europe’s economy is in tatters, unemployment is rising, education is several countries such as Italy is in a shambles, agriculture policy creates waste and environmental destruction, and a foreign policy does not exist. So what is the vision for the future offered into this campaign season by Germany’s Angela Merkel and France’s Nicolas Sarkozy?
Everything will get better, they explain, if we just keep Turkey out of the European Union. Said Merkel in comments we reported yesterday: "It makes no sense if there are ever more members, and we can't decide anything anymore. It is right that we say to people in the European election campaign É our common position is: a privileged partnership for Turkey, but no full membership."
Added Sarkozy: "Stop making vain promises to Turkey and study with it the creation of a big common economic and human space."
These are comments come from visionless leaders at a time of confusion and despair in Europe and are made in support of candidates for a meaningless legislature.
As the International Crisis Group’s Hugh Pope counseled, this brand of cheap politics is damaging. But it is Turkey that owns its quest to join the EU. Turkey can and will contribute far more to the union than it will take. Sarkozy and Merkel are not among the many European leaders who understand this.
With them we need to focus on the future of the EU and Turkey’s role within it. Let’s ignore this latest passing sideshow.