The French prime minister, Mr Lionel Jospin, has made an important and ambitious contribution to the debate on the future of an enlarged Europe in his speech delivered in Paris yesterday. After a period of notable silence in response to proposals put forward by the ruling social democrats and Greens in Germany, Mr Jospin calls for a Europe defined by a social programme, a distinctive world view and an original political architecture.
His proposals are topical indeed during the referendum campaign here on the Treaty of Nice and the UK general election. They are strongly influenced by his own political philosophy as political leader of a left-wing coalition government. This comes out most obviously in his remarks on the need for more economic solidarity in the eurozone. He says co-ordination of policies must be considerably enhanced by creating an economic government within it. His calls to combat "unfair tax competition in order to attract international investment and offshore headquarters of European groups" and for the ultimate harmonisation of the corporate-tax system, were immediately attacked by Government spokesmen as a failed agenda that was lost at Nice. The very similar reaction from Mr Tony Blair echoes the close alignment of British and Irish policy on this point. Nor do they have much sympathy for Mr Jospin's call for a levelling up of social protection by way of a special social treaty. But those who take a different political approach may well have more sympathy with his objectives.
Mr Jospin's call for a distinctive European stance in world affairs reflects traditional French preoccupations and concerns. He rejects market uniformity of culture as a form of merchandise and insists that Europe must foster cultural diversity if its pluralism is to be protected. Likewise, the need for economic, diplomatic and security representation of European interests against the domination of the United States, the call for a common European defence and a consistent position on the US missile defence plan, all echo longstanding French themes. His calls for fair trade and sustainable development of the world environment also draw on his stance and position in French politics. Next year's presidential election will hinge partly on the alternative ideas on Europe put forward by Mr Jospin and President Chirac.
Mr Jospin's remarks on the future political organisation of European integration are the most interesting part of his speech. In the name of the French nation-state, and that of its partners in Europe, he rejects the model of federalism put forward by the SPD in Germany - "an executive branch deriving its legitimacy solely from the European Parliament". This, he says, would reduce the EU member-states to the status of the lander in Germany or the states in the US - a fate that France and other European nations could not accept.
Mr Jospin opts instead for the "excellent idea of a federation of nation-states". It would combine the federalist ideal with the reality of Europe's diversity of nations and states by sharing competences between them. Precisely how this would be done will be decided in the political debate on the future of the EU now under way - for which the referendum on the Treaty of Nice will prepare Irish citizens and voters. Mr Jospin's contribution merits close attention as a valuable contribution to that debate and possibly as an indication of how it will be shaped by one of the most influential players involved.