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Brexit and the City
14 June 2012

John Wyles: Time for a treaty within a treaty?


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A 'fiscal solidarity treaty' could be a quick route to a stronger EU, but speed has not been a feature of the EU's crisis response, writes Wyles for European Voice.


The [US] president sees comparable incoherence and poor decision-making in both the US Congress and the European Council, but gazing across the Atlantic there is not even a shadowy outline of a pan-European leader with powers like his own to mobilise opinion and secure policy outcomes.

If Europe does aspire to focus leadership in such a way, it will probably do so at the stately pace that has consistently forced it to chase events rather than control them during the past two years of the sovereign-debt crisis. Though she is aware of this critical handicap, Merkel now talks constantly of the need for a political union as a solution to the eurozone's weak and insecure governance.

The prospect of another round of treaty changes is toxic in many national capitals. Leaders tremble at the thought of trying to persuade their voters to transfer more powers to Brussels. Traditional supporters of deeper integration such as France and the Netherlands can no longer be counted upon. But old habits and thought patterns die hard: Dick Roche, Ireland's former minister for European affairs, wants another constitutional convention. He says that with grit and determination its work could be wrapped up in 100 days.

Certainly, a convention would not need to do much original thinking about a possible model for political union. Many have been in circulation since well before the convention of 2002-03. Unfortunately, it is doubtful if any would win the support of a majority of Member States before they are robbed of shape and logic by the EU's negotiating process. For evidence, we need look no further than the Lisbon treaty, under whose rules the Union is performing so ineffectively.

Now, there is significant support for merging the presidencies of the Commission and the Council into a single elective office. Will EU Member States really want to wade through such difficult waters? Certainly not all of them and perhaps only a few. A core group from the eurozone may play with the idea of a treaty within a treaty that would quickly attract the adherence of all countries that use the single currency. However, more months of market turmoil and fudged decisions may be needed before there is a general recognition that we cannot go on like this.

Full article (EV subscription required)



© European Voice


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