London needs to develop partners, issue by issue, writes Zoellick in this FT article.
Instead of lecturing Britons with old talking points that they would not accept themselves, Americans should be listening to Mr Cameron. By looking ahead, the UK prime minister’s speech could turn out to be a rare statement that moves the arrow on the future’s compass.
First, Mr Cameron recognises that Britain and the EU must be more competitive in a fast-changing world economy... To compete, Europeans will need structural reforms, not just fiscal and monetary policy patches...
Second, Mr Cameron recognises that the eurozone crisis will change the EU. Because the eurozone’s trials demand a fiscal union, he shifted Britain’s historic resistance to deeper integration. He accepts that there will need to be different approaches for various EU members...
Third, it is now up to British diplomacy to determine whether Mr Cameron makes history or merely a speech. London needs to develop partners, issue by issue. It will not be sufficient just to back the single market and cast protest votes. To achieve Mr Cameron’s aims, his ministers will need to build trust and ties with counterparts, persistently and consistently, not just leaving the work to traditional diplomacy...
Berlin is the key to Mr Cameron’s strategy. While committed to deeper integration, German leaders might value the UK economic perspective and appreciate that the new EU will need flexibility, as long as Britain remains on board.
Similarly, Britain can build allies among smaller European states if it convinces them it prefers coalitions to splendid isolation. France’s dirigiste economic policies may obstruct UK aims – though Anglo-French military co-operation enhances the EU. But, if Paris does not make structural reforms Germany and the eurozone will have a larger worry.
Finally, Mr Cameron’s political judgement, in uniting the Tories and undermining the UK Independence party, is worthy of a nod from Disraeli. The Labour opposition will have to decide whether it opposes letting the public vote on such a key issue. Mr Cameron’s position also presses other European leaders to consult their voters. The EU always has been an elite project; as it adapts, these elites should persuade their citizens, too.
Mr Cameron stated that he prefers the UK to remain in a healthy, more competitive EU. He countered British opponents of the EU with arguments about its benefits. Now UK business should help Mr Cameron. So should the Labour party. And the US.
I hope Britain succeeds. The road ahead will not be easy. A Britain that did not try to shape its future, however, would be acquiescing to some future as “West Saxony” or “Normandy Nord”. That would not be worthy of the Britons I have read about, worked with, and respected.
© Deutsche Welle
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