The aftermaths of Plan D and Europe Day: The Commission’s endeavour to consolidate a Citizens Europe

In a conference given the 8 May 2006 at the Bélem Cultural Centre preceding the 9 May Celebrations of the European Union, José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission addressed a speech entitled «Strengthening a Citizens Europe». After commenting structural and institutional evolutions following Portugal’s accession to the European Community, he underscored the conventionally held opinion by public opinion that Europe is in a state of «crisis». President Barroso conceded that the failure of the French and Dutch referendums in 2005 has undoubtedly cast a shadow over Europe, spreading doubts and confusion over the European project and even creating a mood of pessimism and cynicism. This, in his words, has been seized on by demagogues as the first signs of clear nationalism. President Barroso nevertheless pointed out that European integration constitutes a dynamic process which necessarily gives rise to some resistance.

President Barroso indicated that the European Union has taken a number of policy initiatives and resolved some very important issues, making the most of globalization, underlining the EU’s leading role resulting from the maturity of its project. While globalisation is neither caused nor compounded by the European Union, President Barroso stressed that he EU’s size and capacity for cohesion represents the key for harnessing the forces of globalisation and turning them to its advantage. He therefore pleaded for a Europe that produces results, stating that links with citizens will be reinforced through practical achievements.

Embarking in the question of the future of Europe, President Barroso highlighted the campaign «Plan-D for Democracy, Dialogue and Debate», launched in all Member States and conducted via an open internet discussion forum on European issues. The Commission is currently keen to tackle delivery failures considered as the main cause of the EU’s «legitimacy crisis». President Barroso’s speech symptomatically referred to the period following the French and Dutch denials of the Constitutional Treaty following which the June 2005’ European Council decided to set off a one-year «period of reflection», allowing a broad debate on future orientations taken by the Union. The «Plan D» for Democracy, Dialogue and Debate was meant to support member states willing to undertake this introspective discussion with its citizens. President Barosso asserted that through these actions, the EU wished to manifest its strive for simplification, consultation, involvement and accountability in order to establish a much-needed relationship of trust with the European citizens.

As a result, President Barosso recently convened all the Members of the Commission to an informal seminar. The conclusions of the debates undertaken during the Plan-D «period of reflection» have been presented this 10th of May, in Brussels by Commission President Barroso and Margot Wallström, Vice-President for institutional relations and communication strategy, providing the basis of the EC’s input to the European Council of 15-16 June.

The Commission thereby adopted a policy agenda for Europe’s citizens. «A Citizens’ agenda for Europe» drafts the Commission’s analysis of the institutional «crisis» and recommends a focus on delivery, starting from the premise that the EU has «never more been needed», but also «rarely been more questioned». Another striking lessons learnt, is that EU citizens have a «fairly low knowledge and interest in how the EU institutions operate», but at the same time «high expectations on delivery and policy content». To win back the confidence of the public, the Commission projects to strap up all its resources, both internally and externally, to deliver solutions to the issues raised by citizens. The Commission thus sets out twelve policy initiatives to deliver a «Europe of results». The suggested remedies by the policy response appear however relatively consensual:

 A forward looking single market review,

 A agenda for access and solidarity, in parallel to the single market review.

 Delivering better access for EU citizens to their existing rights, and greater awareness of those rights, by proposing an «entitlement card» for all EU citizens.

 Improving decision taking and accountability in justice, liberty and security policies, through the use of existing Treaty possibilities.

Furthermore, the Commission plans to publish a strategic paper on the Union’s external relations and later this year launch a debate on the external consequences for the Union of further globalisation. This emphasizes President Barosso’s assumption exposed in his 8 May speech that it is through practical results that the European Union will demonstrate its role of fully fledged protagonist on the globalisation stage.

By means of its Plan D conclusions, the Commission moreover manifests its cautiousness as regards the way forward on the Constitutional Treaty. Starting from the view that there is no consensus on this issue, the Commission proposes that the June European Council should endorse a step by step approach, with as a first step Europe’s leaders adopting a new political declaration, and commitment in 2007, 50 years after the signature of the Treaty of Rome. This declaration should then serve as the basis for decisions by the European Council to launch a process designed to lead to a future institutional settlement. A further «rendezvous» step will come in 2008/2009 when the Commission reports on the future financing of the Union.

In fact, the Commission considers that the reform of the EU’s budget in 2008 will be crucial to deliver on this «citizens’ agenda». With regard to the latter issue, President Barroso stressed in his 8 May speech that the Commission ensured the necessary financial means for the next seven years, playing an active role in achieving agreement between the three European institutions (Parliament, Council and Commission) on the multi-annual financial framework for 2007-13. He argued that this agreement renews the commitment to the fundamental principle of economic and social cohesion, containing a clause of major strategic importance that will allow a mid-term review of the European Union budget in 2008-09.

In parallel to the Commission’s conclusions on «Citizens Europe», the Campaign for Parliamentary Reform (CPR) has presented a citizens initiative (under article 47 in the proposed constitution) to the citizens of Europe, and the European media. The website www.oneseat.eu aims to collect one million signatures from European citizens calling for a more efficient and accountable European Parliament, and therefore, requesting one seat for the European Parliament, in Brussels. Commissioner Wallström has repeatedly alleged her support with regard to article 47 initiatives, waiting for the first initiative to make it to her desk.

Documents:

 Eur-Lex: The Commission’s contribution to the period of reflection and beyond: Plan-D for Democracy, Dialogue and Debate, COM(2005) 494 final (Oct. 2006):

http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/

 Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission: Strengthening a Citizens Europe, 9 May Celebrations, Bélem Cultural Centre, 8 May 2006:

http://europa.eu.int/

 Delivering results for Europe: Commission calls for a citizens’ agenda:

http://europa.eu.int/

 Link to Campaign for Parliamentary Reform (CPR) initiative:

http://www.oneseat.eu/

 Link to Euractiv Article:

http://www.euractiv.com/