On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaties of Rome, the Presidents of Germany, Horst Köhler, Portugal, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, and Slovenia, Janez Drnovsek, jointly wrote the article "Europe: from challenges to opportunities", which was published by several European newspapers.
Read about the article by the three Presidents:
"On 1 January 2007 Germany, Portugal and Slovenia assumed the first trio presidency in the history of the European Union. They are thus part of a one-and-a-half-year team. At the same time they are each responsible for their own EU presidency term. The trio presidency ensures continuity, makes long-term planning possible and facilitates the consistent implementation of a common work programme. Our trio Presidency is an expression of the unity in diversity which characterizes Europe.
In a few days in Berlin, we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaties of Rome, which laid the foundations for the European Union we know today. Since they were signed, a great work of peace, social and economic prosperity, consolidation of democracy and promotion of human rights has been created in the form of the European Union. We Europeans share the same values. This common understanding of belonging to Europe, its culture, traditions and identity has enabled us in the past 50 years to establish a firm institutional framework - the European Union - and to develop a sense of togetherness. At the same time, the internal market and the economic and monetary union have given producers and consumers in Europe a large domestic market in an increasingly globalized world.
The European Union has become a model for other countries and regions throughout the world. The successful combination of market freedom with individual responsibility and social justice is admired across the globe. From its origins with six founding members, the European Union has grown to encompass 27 Member States. And further countries wish to join them. Also its model of integration serves as an inspiration for other parts of the world. The African Union, for example, mirrors the European Union not only in name. Its institutional structure is also based on that of the European Union.
However, we must not deceive ourselves. At the start of the 21st century Europe and the Europeans face enormous new challenges:
– of an economic nature, because since the end of the Cold War the global economy has become increas¬ingly interwoven and billions of additional people are now participating in the global competition for employment and income with hard graft and creativity;
- of an environmental nature, because climate change and its effects, such as water scarcity, drought and floods, is also changing the basis for existence in Europe, and only a global effort, specially from the developed countries, can tackle global warming;
– of a cultural nature. Preserving and promoting cultural diversity are among the Community’s founding principles. On the other hand cultural dialogue has taken on a new meaning in the context of globalization. Others are asking, "What values do you Europeans stand for? What is really important to you? What do you expect from us, and what can we expect from you?"
– and because Europe plays an important part in maintaining world peace and we have to ask how Europe can perform this function successfully.
Europe will only be able to preserve its social model and remain a model for others if we Europeans succeed in adapting to the new conditions of the 21st century. The Institute for Global Economics in Budapest has ascertained that for 700 years Europe was one of the world's growth centres. If we do not want to miss the boat, we must become once again a centre for innovation, investment and economic dynamism to achieve adequate growth once again. The importance of the European model to the world must be bolstered by economic and innovative strength.
As pleasing as the current economic revival in Europe is, it will only last if we make a credible effort to tackle the necessary structural reforms, both at community level, and also, primarily, at the level of the individual Member States.
The Lisbon Strategy has specified the right goals to achieve this. For Europe to remain competitive, we need above all investment in education and in research and development.
With 480 million people, of whom more than 300 million share a common currency, Europe is the largest internal market in the world. The euro has become the second most important currency in the world and the economic and monetary union is one of Europe's responses to globalization.
But the fact still remains that Europe is still not a harmonized economic area in many aspects. More effort is required to complete the internal market. The opening of still protected markets must be a priority here. The liberalization of the electricity and gas markets remains an important goal on this path. We should be clear about where our national interests really lie. A genuine internal market in Europe together with a determined social and cohesion policy will bring more benefits in the long term. It will make them fit to compete on the international arena. Having a single currency does not in itself guarantee trouble-free economic development.
If the Union wants to be seen as a key global player, it has to act like one. This implies a set of wide-range international relations starting with our neighbours in Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean. Last summer, we were confronted – as in previous years – with horrific, deeply moving images of men, women and children from many African countries who had set off for Europe and who now, completely exhausted, were fighting desperately for survival. These images show that the fate of our neighbouring continent is not something we can turn a blind eye towards. Europe's future is closely linked to the future of Africa. For that reason, we need an open dialogue with the countries of Africa as equal partners. The time has come to talk with Africa and not just about Africa.
The European Union is travelling down this path. In its 2005 strategy on Africa, it recognizes that the basic political conditions in Africa as a whole have improved. It supports the African Union in its efforts to take ownership of the continent's affairs. The European Union acts as a mediator in crises from Côte d'Ivoire to Darfur. The mission in Darfur in particular should be a sign of hope for the countries of Africa. Peace and stability must become established in Sudan and elsewhere in Africa before the economic pro¬gress for which people in many African countries have waited so long can occur.
Europe and Africa have many common issues which are worth discussing. But we must do more than just talk. Concrete action is required, for example, by opening up Western markets to African products. Moreover, we sincerely hope that the summit of European and African heads of state and government planned for the second half of 2007 is a success. Germany and Portugal will do their utmost to ensure that the foundations are laid for a constructive meeting.
The International Climate Change Conference took place in Nairobi in November 2006. This month, it will be five years to the day since the environment ministers of the European Union gave the go-ahead for the Kyoto Protocol on global climate change. Current scientific studies show that, from now until the end of the century, our climate will change faster than ever before. We must recognize that climate change is not a far-off phenomenon, but that it has already become a reality and that decisive action is therefore needed. We must drastically reduce harmful CO2 emissions now; this is not a goal which we can put off any longer. The European Union must start paving the way for a future international climate regime. The EU must play a credible, pioneering role in climate policy if we are to persuade other high-emis¬sion states to cut their greenhouse gas emissions. This applies in particular to emerging economies such as India and China, but also to Africa, which rightly points out that by far most of the world's pollution is produced by the northern hemisphere.
Effective climate protection is not only an ecological must; it is also an economic one. The economic consequences of unchecked climate change alone would be immense. In a study published in autumn 2006, renowned British economist Nicholas Stern stated that we may lose up to 20% of world GNI if we do not act now. The cost of effective action on climate protection is small by comparison, at around 1% of world GNI. Worldwide energy consumption is increasing constantly – in China alone, it has risen by two-thirds over the last three years. Increasing demand makes fossil fuels more expensive. Faced with long-term increases in energy prices, many companies are worried about their competitiveness. Some developing countries now spend 80% of their foreign exchange on energy imports, meaning that fewer and fewer funds are available for the urgent fight against poverty. Sweden has shown fore¬sightedness by setting itself the target of no longer being dependent on oil, gas or coal by 2020. Breaking away from oil is an ambitious goal, but a step in the right direction.
We welcome that the European Council just adopted an energy action plan which defines the fun¬damental elements of a new European energy policy. Completion of the internal market, including the liberalization of the electricity and gas markets, increasing competition, lower consumption, more efficiency and more use of renewables are crucial factors in any long-term energy policy. On renewables an important message was given by the EC with the compromise to have a target of 20% share of renewable energies in overall EU energy consumption by 2020 and a 10 % binding minimum target to be achieved by all Member States for the share of biofuels in overall EU transport petrol and diesel consumption by 2020. But still much remains to be done in particular in the field of energy efficiency. Scientists claim that a five-fold increase in energy efficiency in the coming years is not beyond the realms of possibility. But there is a great need for research and development in this field. All the more a reason to imple¬ment the EU's energy efficiency action plan quickly and effectively. We need a common energy policy so that the EU's role in international energy relations reflects its political and economic importance.
Europe is not merely an economic and social community, however. Europe must recognize its responsibility for a just and therefore stable world order, and be able to bring its influence to bear. In our view, a constitutional treaty for Europe is an important step in achieving this goal. The objectives of a draft constitutional treaty are to make the Union more democratic, more transparent, more agile to take action, more efficient and more able to act as a key world player.
more democratic
– by granting the European Parliament more rights and giving Europe's citizens the right to have a direct influence on politics in Brussels;
more transparent
– by making it clear who is responsible for what in Europe with a view to ensuring that deci¬sions are taken by those closest to the problems;
more able to take action
– by allowing more decisions to be taken with a majority vote rather than a unanimous one.
Europe is not alone in the world. The world expects much of Europe, but it will not wait for Europe. Let us join forces – once again – and show ourselves and the world that it is possible to turn challenges into opportunities".
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