The big picture

De geringe daadkracht van Europa bij het vinden van oplossingen voor Griekenland, Brexit en de migrantentoestroom speelt eurosceptici in de kaart. Maar laten we vooral niet vergeten dat Europese samenwerking leidde tot vrede in Europa, bescherming van mensenrechten en economische groei. Uit iedere oorlog en crisis kwam een beter, sterker en welvarender Europa. Dat ging dan weliswaar ten koste van soevereiniteit maar de lidstaten kregen er wel wat voor terug. In dat licht moet ook het vijf-voorzittersrapport worden gezien.

The recent news on the European Union has largely been dominated by Euro pessimism. The referendum in Greece and the possibility of a Grexit, the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean, and the possible dates for a British exit- referendum in 2016 have dominated the headlines.

Sometimes it is a good idea to take a step back and observe what has been achieved by the European Union and by the process of European integration. In 1945, the world had just witnessed two major wars involving many countries on the European continent and beyond. These wars were fought with an exceedingly modern arsenal of weapons and on an unprecedented scale, leading to an incredible amount of casualties and destruction. Europe was literally in shambles after the Second World War and its future course was unclear. Continuing the course of nationalism and inward- looking policies would result in further conflicts on the continent. A new course was needed to ensure peaceful relations in Europe.

This new course was to abandon the inward- looking policies of the first half of the 20^th century, in favor of international cooperation, integration, and accountability. The Nuremberg trials showed that both states and individuals could be held responsible for violations of the laws of war and for committing gross human rights violations. The European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights as its enforcement mechanism are further components of this focus on individual human rights and accountability for violations of those rights. Alas, political interdependence, individual human rights, and accountability are only a part of the process of European integration. 

Economic integration was another important goal of the European integration process. Economic interdependence, especially interdependence of those industries important for wartime production, makes new conflicts less likely. On 9 May 1950, French foreign minister Robert Schuman in a Declaration proposing the founding of the European Coal and Steel Community, stated that the “contribution which an organized and living Europe can bring to civilization is indispensable to the maintenance of peaceful relations.” Since the Schuman Declaration, the EU has gradually increased both in the scope of its activities and in its membership. Through the integration of the economies of Europe, the twin goals of economic and political interdependence have been achieved, whereas the hostilities between the major European powers of the first half of the 20^th century (and well before that) have disappeared. At present, the EU has 28 Member States, a single market, free movement of persons, and a single currency, the Euro. The EU undeniably has played an important role in achieving and maintaining peace and political stability in Europe, and this has happened at a pace that could not have been envisaged at the time of Schuman’s Declaration in 1950. This is nothing short of a miracle!

However, from the very beginning Schuman recognized that the process of European integration would not be without difficulties or setbacks. The hostilities of the past and the nationalist tendencies of the Member States could not be overcome that easily. Schuman recognized that this would be a slow and gradual process. In the words of Schuman: “Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity. The coming together of the nations of Europe requires the elimination of the age-old opposition”. Schuman, in his declaration, referred specifically to opposition between France and Germany, but this sentence could also have referred to many of the other Member States. Tensions between Member States have existed in the past, still exist, and probably always will exist. Member States occasionally will resist the European integration process and fall back on nationalist tendencies.

In a recent address, Commission President Juncker, in cooperation with the other Presidents within the European Union (Tusk, Dijsselbloem, Draghi and Schulz) evaluate the position of the EMU during and after the crisis. The document describes the current state of the EMU and sums up its achievements. “The euro is a successful and stable currency. It is shared by 19 EU Member States and more than 330 million citizens. It has provided its members with price stability and shielded them against external instability. Despite the recent crisis, it remains the second most important currency in the world, with a share of almost a quarter of global foreign exchange reserves, and with almost sixty countries and territories around the world either directly or indirectly pegging their currency to it.” The document continues by stressing that a “complete EMU is not an end in itself. It is a means to create a better and fairer life for all citizens, to prepare the Union for future global challenges and to enable each of its members to prosper.” The document looks at the more positive economic outlook at the moment in most of the European Union and applies that optimism also to the EMU.

The Presidents state that the “euro is more than just a currency. It is a political and economic project. All members of our Monetary Union have given up their previous national currencies once and for all, and permanently share monetary sovereignty with the other euro area countries. In return, countries gain the benefits of using a credible and stable currency within a large, competitive and powerful single market. This common destiny requires solidarity in times of crisis and respect for commonly agreed rules from all members.” And in this sense, the Euro can be placed in the wider context of the whole process of European integration. This sentence is a microcosm of what the European Union is all about. The Member States have given up (a large amount of) sovereignty to the European Union. However, they have not given up this sovereignty without getting something in return. This act of solidarity and respect for others on behalf of the Member States has brought peace and prosperity to the continent, where before there was conflict and destruction. It is easy to lose sight of this big picture of European integration. Therefore, it is sometimes useful to remind ourselves of the greater goals of the Europeanization process, so eloquently posited by Schuman in his declaration over half a century ago when we are discussing the everyday problems of the European Union.