Entwicklung, EU-Staaten, Economic development, EU countries

Günther Beckstein

English

Research Papers in Economics

GÜNTHER BECKSTEIN
Bavarian State Minister of the Interior 
Ladies and gentlemen,
I should like to welcome you warmly to this recep-
tion an behalf of the Bavarian State Government.
The Bavarian Minister-President has already had the
opportunity to address you today in his keynote
speech.
Jean Monnet, one of the founding fathers of the
European Community, once said in reference to the
unification process in Europe:
“We are not unifying nations, but people.”
This succinct statement summarises the aim of the
EU concisely:The EU is there to serve the wellbeing
of its citizens.It is not some theoretical construct,but
rather a vital community of citizens.That is why the
EU can only be filled with life if it is supported by its
citizens, if people commit themselves to the EU and
identify with it.
The new constitution would certainly help the EU in
this matter.Its Charter of Fundamental Rights delin-
eates a common set of values for all citizens of the
EU.With this unifying bond, the EU could continue
developing its identity, could find greater internal
resolve, while at the same time maintaining the so-
vereignty of each individual nation.
And so the results of the referenda in France and
Holland should indeed give us pause for thought.
The ballots cast by these citizens are a serious warn-
ing shot.lt is not an accidental result.The votes show
that the fundamental trust of many citizens in EU
policies has been shaken.This cannot go on.
At the present time, the citizens have a conflicting
rapport with the EU. We are quite willing to accept
the advantages the EU offers. Surely everyone
appreciates crossing EU borders without needing a
passport and being subjected to complex formalities.
Surely everyone appreciates the many years of peace
and stability that we have in,and because of,the EU.
All this seems almost natural, so we easily forget the
difficult road that led to these advantages. They are
the outcome of extraordinary work that went into
the process of unification.Without the EU,we would
probably not enjoy these benefits.
Yet the image of “Brussels” is anything but good.
“Brussels” has the reputation of wastinq money and
being obsessed with regulations. When it comes to
the subject of “Europe”, only a minimal percentage
of people seem to show enthusiasm.
One of the EU’s most important tasks now and in
the future is to bolster the confidence of citizens in
the EU.
• To do this, as many decisions as possible must be
made as close to the citizens as possible.The prin-
ciple of subsidiarity must be enacted consistently.
• Europe must concentrate on its core tasks.That is:
common foreign,security and defense policies.We
especially need closer cooperation amongst the
Member States with regard to internal security.
• Europe also needs borders, and these are not in
Asia or Africa. We must all realize that a great
community like Europe can also break up due to
excessive demands and overstretching.
An old wisdom of government states: “Non multa,
sed multum” – one shouldn’t do lots, but rather less,
and that with great vigor and commitment.
At its Spring Summit on the Lisbon process last year,
the European Council did a great deal of work in
this spirit.lt clearly reasserted the original core goals
of the Lisbon process: sustainable growth and more
employment through increased competitiveness.
First and foremost, the individual countries are
called to task here. They must undertake the neces-
sary reforms.
When growth begins to increase again, when
employment figures start rising,then so will the trust
the citizens have in the EU. The emotional ties of
each citizen to the EU will then be closer and
CESifo Forum 2/2005 46
Dinner SpeechCESifo Forum 2/2005 47
stronger. That is exactly what the EU needs if it
intends to remain on the path of success.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The birth of the EU is a lengthy and very dynamic
process. This process must be evaluated and con-
trolled at all times. Need for change must be identi-
fied as quickly as possible. The conference today is
an important forum for this.
I hope that this meeting can generate ideas for the
continuing Lisbon process and I wish you inspiring
exchanges of ideas.
Dinner Speech

Speeding up European Reform: A Master Plan for the Lisbon Process -Dinner Speech

http://www.cesifo-group.de/portal/page/portal/DocBase_Content/ZS/ZS-CESifo_Forum/zs-for-2005/zs-for-2005-2/forum2-05-panel1-7.pdf

Speeding up European Reform: A Master Plan for the Lisbon Process -Dinner Speech

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Research Papers in Economics