Will the Gauls have the guile?

Europe needs determination and vision and lacks both. Will the French presidency be able to give the Old Continent a nudge in the right direction? VAIJU NARAVANE reports.

THE FREE fall of the Euro against the dollar has sent Europe into a tizzy. Though most European economies appear to be doing well, the weakness of the Euro is a symptom of the uncertainty which dogs the process of European integration and construction. As it enters its 50th year, Europe faces challenges and problems it has never confronted: enlargement, a reform of its institutions, defence policy, foreign policy, the adoption of a European rights charter, and the tantalising idea of a constitution.

Not a single innovative idea has been launched since the Euro was adopted by 11 countries, and the much-awaited ``institutional big bang'' that the currency was to have created has failed to materialise. Pious declarations to the contrary, the old debate between sovereignty and supra-nationality continues to grip the Old Continent with the result that Europe has stepped into the new millennium in a mood at once hesitant and wary.

The French presidency of the European Union, which begins on July 1 and runs through until the end of December, therefore comes at a particularly sensitive and delicate moment. Mistakes at this juncture could jeopardise the future of Europe. France's presidency will be capped by the Nice summit and a failure to obtain significant results there, at the end of discussions on the Union's institutional reform, will put a brake on the entire process of European construction.

For France itself, this particular presidency of the E.U. is full of challenges and pitfalls. The Franco-German tandem, which for several decades was the powerhouse of Europe, is no longer as close or cosy. Europe itself has become more open and less ``manageable'' or pliant since France's last shot at the presidency and French leaders will have to show infinite tact and diplomacy to bring recalcitrant members on board. France also approaches this presidency at a crucial moment in its own political cycle. A presidential election is on the cards two years down the line and both Mr. Jacques Chirac, the country's conservative President, and Mr. Lionel Jospin, the socialist Prime Minister, have their political futures in mind as they make their every move. Fortunately for France, both leaders who are passionate believers in the pursuit of European integration have so far refrained from allowing their rivalry to contaminate the debate.

While Mr. Jospin chose May 9, the E.U.'s 50th birthday, to present his vision of European construction, Mr. Chirac made his views known a few days earlier. Once more, Mr. Chirac used a discourse which has stood him in good stead in the past, stressing human values over the imperatives of economic gain. The well-being of each of its citizens should be at the centre of Europe's preoccupations, he said. ``With the adoption, hopefully, of the fundamental rights charter, the French presidency will put together principles and values as a basis for the Europe of tomorrow. The changing world calls for a new type of solidarity. We need Europe to help us be more coherent and efficient,'' Mr. Chirac said.

Mr. Jospin was less philosophical, more brisk and businesslike. ``The real challenge is the unification of Europe,'' he said. ``Institutional reform and the enlargement of Europe will be the dominant themes of the French presidency and while there is no question of slowing down enlargement, there is no question either of jumping a couple of stages,'' he said. European institutions do not function well and need overhauling. They will be even less well adapted to service the needs of over 20 member-states. Which is why institutional reform should take precedence over enlargement, Mr. Jospin explained.

The minimum objectives of the inter-Governmental conference, which opened under the current Portuguese presidency at the beginning of this year and is expected to conclude at the end of the year with France in the chair, have been hanging fire for the last three years. And although all European leaders speak of the need for transparency, democracy and a certain closeness to the citizen, their dream appears more distant by the day.

The main questions the inter-governmental conference is expected to resolve are those concerning the composition of the European Commission in Brussels which cannot be inflated each time a new member is inducted, the redistribution of voting rights within the Commission and a move away from the system of consensus and towards a majority vote in the decision- making process.

Europe does not have a constitution. The structure, aims and goals of the E.U. are to be found in several treaties and documents adopted over time as it has evolved. Can and will the Europeans continue to make do with this morass of documents governing their institutions or should they start a process for the adoption of a proper constitution? The former Commission President, Mr. Jacques Delors, described Europe as ``a non- identified institutional object'' and an increasing number of personalities feel that the institutional patchwork has reached its limit and should be replaced by a constitution spelling out the rights and responsibilities of citizens and states, describing and defining institutions and structures.

Europe appears to be going through a mid-life crisis and the oft- repeated question seems to be Whither Europe? The end of the Cold War and the fall of communism have brought an unexpectedly large number of candidates knocking on the door. The 15 current members are baulking at the cost and constraints of allowing new entrants. Europe needs determination and vision and lacks both. Will the French presidency be able to give the Old Continent a nudge in the right direction?

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