07 July 2013

Georg Link: "Deepening, enlarging, simplifying – Challenges for German policy on Europe"

Link discussed how a robust, value‑based EU should shape up in a globalised world. "For me, Europe’s future is rooted in three guiding principles:

1. deepening (more Europe)
2. enlarging (Europe on a broader basis)
3. simplifying (better Europe)

1. The EU has made substantial progress on tackling the debt crisis. We have adopted a fiscal compact which firmly anchors a culture of sustainable public budgets in the eurozone. We have set up an effective European Stability Mechanism and adopted an ambitious Compact for Growth and Jobs to boost investment and growth. These steps stabilised the markets but the crisis is far from over.

In the short term, our central goal remains to implement resolutely the Compact for Growth and Jobs adopted a year ago. We must also increase our efforts to combat youth unemployment which has reached worrying levels in a number of southern Member States, and improve conditions for SMEs. But we cannot leave it at short‑term steps – we also need to be able to insist upon and implement structural reform. To do so, we need more binding economic policy coordination – without communitarising central political fields such as the labour market or social security mechanisms.

In all our reform efforts, we have to be sure that the people have a voice when competences are transferred to the European level. A Europe without full democratic legitimacy would be a Europe built on sand.

2. Should we think about further enlargement steps? My response is a clear "yes". Not just because we need to keep our promises, but also because it is in the EU’s interest to promote democratic reform in its neighbouring regions and to export stability. But of course we need to look carefully here at whether the conditions for accession can be fulfilled.

3. I am convinced we can make the EU more successful and effective if we focus it on key areas. Of course, close European cooperation is essential for a strong European economy. We all benefit enormously from the internal market, from our common trade policy and from the Schengen area. We want "more Europe" on the euro and foreign policy. But we want less Europe outside these key areas. We do not need to harmonise every single aspect of life in Europe.

Furthermore, our European institutions need to be reformed. They must take their responsibility more seriously and work together better and more efficiently. This would help strengthen the subsidiarity principle. And, in turn, this would lead to greater acceptance of the EU by the public. What we don’t want however is a process of repatriating competences. That would shatter the EU acquis.

Thus, we need to look beyond current crisis management efforts and fix our gaze on the long‑term goal of a political union. A political union with the Commission as a real government with two parliamentary chambers – the European Parliament and a second chamber made up of representatives of the Member States. On this foundation, Europe could become a real global player that defends its values and interests with a single, strong voice."

Full speech

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