palacio68_John Thys_AFP_Getty Images_Juncker EU parliament

欧盟通往罗马之路

Mar 20, 2017 Ana Palacio

马德里—本月月底，欧盟领导人（除了英国首相梅）将齐聚意大利，庆祝罗马条约签订60周年。周年纪念永远是踌躇满志的好借口，罗马峰会前夕的一切论调都表明这一次也没有什么不同。但欧盟离电脑人还应该将这次周年纪念视为一次深刻反思他们所庆祝的工程的机会。

欧盟正站在十字路口。英国尚未正式启动退欧流程，但英国退欧已经宣布欧洲工程一项基本假设的破产：不管进展多么缓慢，一体化始终是在前进。如今，日益兴盛的民族主义民粹主义正在威胁到这个持续了六十年的进程。

庆祝欧洲统一也许也是面对不统一的困难现实，并思考如何前进的理想时刻。但是，让罗马峰会成为这样的场合所需要的诚实的、自觉的、明确的愿景对于欧盟领导人来说并不是理所当然，他们擅长漂亮的言辞远甚于务实的方案。

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0 Comments on this paragraph, 15 Comments on this article

Peter Schneider Mar 21, 2017

A post-"EU" vision that gets rid of the transnational clothing and takes its strength from intergovernmental cooperation:

- no European currency
- no European "parliament" (at most a chamber of delegates from national parliaments)
- no European commission
- no centralized European bureaucracy
- no European courts (instead arbitral courts in case of need)
- the European council decides unanimously
- national right of self determination (i.e. full national sovereignty)
- especially: national border control
- especially: the national budget is under full control of national parliaments
- common institutions must not overrule national institutions
- no flag with stars (or at least all stars in different colors)
- change of name (e.g. United Nations of Europe)
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Bernhard Kopp Mar 21, 2017

They have already driven out '28'. If EU-27 want to see a celebration in 2027 they better come to their senses on how such a diverse group of nation states could be organized into a UNION. Otherwise they will just muddle along and get nowhere.
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j. von Hettlingen Mar 21, 2017

On March 25 all EU leaders - minus Theresa May - will gather in Rome to mark the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, signed by by France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg in 1957. It established the European Economic Community, which along with the Paris and Euratom treaties is one of the foundation stones of today's EU. Despite its flaws and imperfections the EU is still seen as one of history's primary drivers of peace and prosperity.
The leaders' gathering is not a formal summit and will more likely be an opportunity "to reflect deeply on the project they are celebrating" and "confront the difficult truth of disunity." No doubt May's self-imposed timetable for triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty will cast a long dark shadow over the celebrations. The author says, instead of being honest, self-aware and having a "clear vision" EU leaders "excel far more at lofty rhetoric than pragmatic solutions."
Recently Jean-Claude Juncker has published his “White Paper on the Future of Europe," which defines "five possible paths forward for Europe, from narrowing the EU’s focus to the single market to deepening and broadening integration" - which is a great leap forward into further centralisation. There is also the "seemingly inescapable proposal of building a multi-speed Europe" - with some member states being more in favour of further integration than others.
EU leaders will have a ten-month timeline to reflect and decide at European Council meeting in December, "which direction to take. The new approach would be rolled out ahead of the 2019 European elections." The idea of a multi-speed approach backed by Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, that "would establish them as a unified core" may come too little too late to prevent Britain from leaving the EU. The Brexit vote was Britain's rebellion against deeper integration. .
However the Visegrád Group (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia) "have pushed back" against this multi-speed idea, "fearing that they would be left behind." But they have always oppsed to forging closer ties with the EU. The Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg) - "also have misgivings about such an arrangement, which would exclude them from some decision-making." This is comprehensible, because they were the founding members, together with France, Germany and Italy.
The author criticises Juncker's paper, saying "it is not based on frank and comprehensive self-examination. Rather than rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, the EU needs to address why the ship is sinking." Well, it is just a draft and member states will have their say, when they debate on the various points - intergovernmental or transnational approach in moving the EU forward - she points out.
Although the author is skeptical of a "German-led union" as every "important decision must have Germany’s blessing." Yet "in today’s increasingly contentious world, it might not be a bad way forward." There is also the uncertainty about Angela Merkel's political future. Should she be unseated and succeeded by Martin Schulz, the EU would miss her leadership. The author says: "Europe must decide whether to collaborate or cooperate" and revive Konrad Adenauer's spirit, when he in March 1957 called Rome the perfect backdrop for “laying the foundation for the common future of Europe.”
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M M Mar 20, 2017

The Italian & Spanish elections (referendum) have already been cooked. The German elections are being cooked, Merkel shall remain at the helm albeit with less room to manoeuvre. The French elections are being cooked on high fire, Brexit is already under way, so the EU train is full steam ahead. The EU elections in 2 years time, so the questions that have remained unanswered for the last decade or so, are: "where is the money"? where are the real jobs? Where are the promised and real investments? Where is the real EU growth agenda? Etc... It is the same old, same old, the extend and pretend concept....
- M M Mar 20, 2017
  
  Steve, and the drinks ..on the house.
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- Steve Hurst Mar 20, 2017
  
  J Claude Junckers, Chef du Jour, Todays Special - the Gravy Train
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jagjeet sinha Mar 20, 2017

GERMANY & GERMAN - ZERO PROBABILITY
Withhout One Transfer Union - that reduces the need to migrate - the floodgates that made Brexit inevitable would be magnified.
Without One Language - difficult to imagine assimilation - and the only salvation was English, now impossible after Brexit.
The Anglosphere will remain the Sanctuary - as it has been for endless European Migration.
If only Rome had ensured Latin, the day before it's Empire collapsed.
German has no chance - for the same reason that Germany will never become the Sole Underwriter of Transfer Union.
Game Set Match.
- jagjeet sinha Mar 21, 2017
  
  Yes, of course.
  The road to Infinity always punctuated with The Zero - Rome remained in denial of The Zero until The Fall of Constantinople.
  For 500 years since, all roads lead to London and the New Londons that were created in The Anglosphere.
  Like Greece before, Rome unable to expand the domain of Public Infrastructure Assets - beyond Schools and Hospitals.
  Once The Anglosphere expanded that domain to include Transportation Technology Defense Research Utilities - Rome was another Greece.
  And unlike London, Rome never ensured Latin's permanence - rather focussing on One Religion rather than One Language.
  The Inclusiveness of One Language - rather than One Religion - was left for London to proliferate.
  The Anglosphere took over - and the rest is history.
  Sectarianism that Religions nurture best overcome with One Language - Rome never understood The Truth, like Greece before.
  And The Truth always Trumps.
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- Steve Hurst Mar 21, 2017
  
  jagjeet
  
  The only constant is impermanence. One of the central tenets of Chinese philosophy is the cycle of growth - transition (to decline) - decline - transition (to growth) .... with transition being pseudo stability and a particularly troublesome problematic state because those resident in it see it as stable when it is inherently not. The underlying concept is you cannot be in more than state concurrently. As the EU is difficult to describe as being in growth but has been in growth it can only move at some point to decline. The EU appears to still be seeking growth when it is no longer in that state of being. If that is the case it is like trying to stop the tide coming in and the rearguard action constantly resorted to by some will only be divisive
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- jagjeet sinha Mar 21, 2017
  
  Yes indeed, A Latin orgy it is...Germany eventually will depart as Great Britain has.
  The First Core = France Italy Germany Britain. The Final Core = France Italy Spain Poland.
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- Steve Hurst Mar 20, 2017
  
  Oh dear, sound like political coitius interruptus
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Petey Bee Mar 20, 2017

The future EU would be German-led regardless of what form it takes. For now it's a matter of buying time before the need for a "transfer union" is confronted. This could be many years - the "kick the can down the road" method isn't nearly exhausted, in fact it could go on indefinitely, especially if Europe enjoys a rate differential vs the US, energy prices stay low, the US and China relationship remains tense as it now is, and Brexit is dragged out as long as possible.
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Steve Hurst Mar 20, 2017

'The EU is at a crossroads'. I thought they were building a roundabout so they could go round-a-round and see where they had just been. How else can the big question be avoided other than by circling around it and waving as you go. Commissiare Junckers will be shouting encouragement as usual. Multi-speed is a way of waving goodbye
- Steve Hurst Mar 20, 2017
  
  Pundalik
  
  Don't ask me I voted remain LOL. Just have to watch the farce from the sidelines now. I can hear Junckers shouting No No No exit there
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- P. Kamath Mar 20, 2017
  
  Sir: Brexit is a historic blunder of the millennium. Why did they do it, I wonder!
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