Artikel von Dr. Ingo Friedrich: "Europe paves the way for the 21st century!"

In current times one has the impression that the word crisis already is a synonym of the European Union: constitutional crisis, financial crisis, crisis about the future of the European Union, and thus an identity crisis. In my opinion we should instead of the word crisis use the word challenges because it is more than normal that the deeper integration of the European Union brings side-effects with it that we have to face as challenges. We are currently only lacking the clear definition of the goals of the European Union.

In her government declaration on European politics, Angela Merkel made a clear statement in favour of the relaunch of the values, ideas and goals of the European Union. Also Barroso supports a new public declaration on the European project for the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome which should have the function of a re-founding of the European Union for the 21st century. Also the upcoming summit of the heads of state and government is going to be dedicated to these deliberations.

And now we are already at the heart of the debate: the very idea to have to re-define and re-found the European Union stresses that in order to make Europe a success, we must adapt it to the new challenges of the 21st century. Because the challenges definitely have changed: after the end of the Cold War, the very meaning and goal of the European Union to bring sustainable peace to Europe faded slightly by the successful transformation of the former states of the Soviet Union to democratic states. The integration of ten former states of the Soviet Union into the European Union marked the beginning of a new era: the re-united Europe.

It is true that nowadays Europe has achieved most of its original goals which people tend to take as given: open borders, common currency, mobility of people, money and very soon services, stability and most of all sustainable freedom in Europe.

Nevertheless we have currently the above mentioned crisis of identification: people do not really see the benefit of the European Union, they do not consider Europe important for their daily life. In order to regain the people's support for the project of the European Union we have to make them understand that Europe is indeed the answer to the challenges of the 21st Century.

Facing globalisation we have to make Europe's citizens clear that Europe is the only way to face the competition from the arising markets in China and India, to secure our energy supplies, to fight organised crime and terrorism, to have a strong voice in the world.

The new challenges thus become clear in their full dimension only very slowly. One of the most important challenges to me seems to be the adjustment of the lack of democracy caused by internationalisation and globalisation which is indeed possible via the European democracy. A determining factor for the success of the European integration is the existence of a European public; all the important issues of European politics should be discussed in public already before they actually are translated into directives or come into power. We also have to defend our social market model which is the essential factor of our European way of life. Europe could be a lighthouse of these values and thus have an influence on the worldwide spread of these values.

The importance of the European Union for peace and stability in the world is not at all diminished. On the contrary: Europe has the soft power to spread peace and democracy in the world. By cooperating with NATO and by establishing own European troupes Europe is on the best way to be a reliable partner and promoter of international peace operations.

What is of course of utmost importance is the creation of economic well-being in Europe. The Lisbon strategy is an efficient initiative to promote growth and innovation in Europe. Some member states should only make some more effort to realize these goals.

The overall protection capacity of Europe in times of globalisation should be stressed. In international trade policy Europe stands up for the compliance of social and environmental standards, which are at the very heart of the social market model. These values are the strength of Europe which provides protection from unfair competition and secures our social standards. In order to achieve these goals the intense cooperation of Europe is indispensable. Europe is the only success promising answer to the challenges of globalisation.

We nevertheless have to change European politics. We should first of all respect the principle of subsidiarity more and have less detailed provisions in order to let the European level create the framework, but the member states to define their own politics in accordance to the European level. Also we have to take people's concerns serious: the approval of European citizens of the enlargement policy of the Union is decreasing more and more and shows that people are in favour a phase of consolidation and integration. Therefore it would be important to have a clear definition of the borders of the European Union and develop an effective neighbourhood policy which spreads peace, democracy and well-being. The absorption capacity of the European Union must be respected more when dealing with enlargement.

I am convinced that the European constitution and its very essential innovations have a new chance in such a different public mood. When people understand and feel that Europe can provide them security and protection and can secure their living they will accept Europe more and more and in the long run become fervent supporters of this project again.