EU:Commission president wants no nostalgia for a mini-Europe, writes Jamie Smyth, European Correspondent
European Commission president José Manuel Barroso has urged EU leaders to promote the benefits of enlargement and resist the nostalgia found in some circles for a mini-Europe.
He has also urged them not to revise a decision taken by EU foreign ministers this week to partially suspend Turkey's accession talks to join the union when they meet today at the EU summit in Brussels.
"I think it was a very credible and very fair decision that the foreign ministers took. . . I think we can be proud. It shows the EU is able to take difficult decisions," says Mr Barroso in an interview with The Irish Times.
The decision to suspend eight chapters of Turkey's accession negotiations has been criticised by supporters and opponents of Ankara's 40-year bid to join the EU. Britain believes it is too strict a punishment for failing to open its ports to Cypriot ships, while Austria and Cyprus wanted a tougher penalty imposed. Ankara says the decision is unfair and has warned it will strain relations with the union.
"The EU could not be considered credible if after the decision taken last year [ to start talks on condition Turkey opened its ports] we did not show there were some consequences for the overall negotiations. But there was a clear commitment on the part of all member states to go ahead with the process - not to close the door on the aspirations of Turkey," says Mr Barroso, who says Turkey is likely to be discussed during a wider debate on enlargement at the summit.
Asked if the decision by foreign ministers will lead ordinary Turks to lose faith in Europe, Mr Barroso says the public need to analyse the situation objectively and use it as a signal of the need for reform.
"Cyprus is not the only problem," says Mr Barroso. "Turkey has to do more in terms of freedom of expression freedom of religion, women's rights, minority rights, trade union rights and control of the military by the civilian authorities."
European values such as the protection of human rights and democracy are central to the wider debate on enlargement that leaders will grapple with. According to Mr Barroso, these should be "non-negotiable" and the key criteria used for assessing whether states are invited to join the union. Attempts by states such as France to modify accession criteria and introduce a geographical border to the union would be a mistake.
"I don't think you should try and anticipate the borders of Europe, this is very risky. I cannot find geographers agreeing on borders so it is a political decision at the end and a political decision from my point of view is based on the capacity of integration."
Mr Barroso's definition of integration capacity revolves around applicant countries' readiness to assume all the obligations of membership and the ability of the union to receive a new member that can contribute to the overall integration of Europe.
But he is anxious to resist the nostalgia that exists in some circles for the mini-Europe of an earlier era and urges leaders to forge a new consensus on the need for enlargement.
"Europe counts more now than it counted when we were 12 in the union, so an enlarged Europe is a condition for a powerful Europe. In this globalised world we are not too big - just look at China. . . so that view is a complete mistake," says Mr Barroso, who adds that the next enlargement will have to wait for an institutional settlement.
Mr Barroso is cautious about the prospects for an early breakthrough in an attempt by the German presidency to resuscitate the draft treaty, which seeks to streamline decision-making within the EU. "It would be negative to expect a decision too soon," warns Mr Barroso, when asked about Berlin's target of getting a deal next year. But he is supportive of the content of the treaty drawn up under the 2004 Irish presidency.
"We hope the basic values, principles and substance of it can be ratified because we need a more efficient decision-making process, we need more democratic accountability, and we need more coherence in external affairs," says Mr Barroso, who also does not rule out linking it with a proposed budget reform in 2008. "Intellectually, the budget review could be linked to the institutional debate," he says.
Linking budget reform to the constitution could tempt Britain to drop its objections to greater integration if it was offered a revision of the Cap in return, some analysts say.
With Brussels taking a back seat on the constitution, Mr Barroso in his first two years of office has focused on practical projects to make the EU relevant to citizens. This will see the commission unveil a controversial strategy on energy in January and talks today by EU leaders on the possibility of creating a European immigration policy.
"In a common space where there is freedom of circulation, it's absurd to have 25 migration policies," says Mr Barroso, who wrote a letter to all 25 EU leaders asking them to show solidarity with states such as Spain that experienced a flood of African immigrants in the summer.
But with states jealously guarding control of their borders and justice policies, Mr Barroso wants EU solidarity expressed through gifts of equipment and cash in the short term.
In return, he urges states such as Spain not to regularise migrants without first co-ordinating their actions with other member states.
Mr Barroso says no final decisions have been made on the final draft of the controversial energy review proposed by the commission for January. The commission is considering unbundling power transmission from supply, a move that could prompt the break-up of Europe's energy giants. Germany and France are resisting. However, Mr Barroso is clear that something must be done. "The status quo is not working," he says. "We cannot speak with one voice to third parties or suppliers of energy and speak with 27 voices [Romania and Bulgaria join on January 1st] inside the EU." When EU leaders meet tonight, energy could be a hot topic of discussion.
Barroso: what he said
On Turkey:EU leaders at summit should not try to revise the decision taken unanimously on partially suspending talks with Turkey. There have to be "consequences" for Turkey given its failure to comply with the Ankara Protocol but member states did not close the door on Turkey's aspirations.
On the summit:Leaders should concentrate on innovation, migration and the enlargement debate. New consensus among EU leaders needed to enable them to make a positive case for enlargement. There exists a nostalgia in some circles for a mini-Europe but in a globalised world, the EU is not too big.
On the constitution:EU needs an institutional settlement before new enlargement. Hopes basic values, principles and substance of it can be ratified because union needs a more efficient decision-making process. But it would be negative to expect a decision too soon.
On energy: Status quo in internal market not working. We cannot speak with one voice to third parties or suppliers of energy and speak with 27 voices inside the EU. Commission paper in January.
On economic integration and tax:Supports more co-ordinated approach of the political and economic policies in euro area. Thinks harmonising the corporate tax base would make life easier for companies. Not proposing a harmonisation of the corporation tax rate (see business page).
On climate change:Climate change most important challenge for the 21st century... a real threat to the life on our planet. The credibility of emissions trading system is very important because of the signal it makes for the transition to a low-carbon economy. Hopes governments resisting it will change mind.