As part of its European Conferences, the Jean Monnet Foundation for Europe had the pleasure of welcoming, on Friday 22 March 2013, Mr Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament, who concluded his two-day official visit to Switzerland. His lecture was on: “European integration, democratic legitimacy and systemic crisis – what contribution does the European Parliament make?” Micheline Calmy-Rey, former President of the Confederation and Federal Councillor in charge of Switzerland’s foreign affairs, now a professor at the University of Geneva, was also invited to comment on her remarks.
The growing disaffection and loss of confidence of European citizens would constitute a real threat to the European project. The idea of a united Europe, inspired by founding fathers such as Jean Monnet, was a historic response in the aftermath of the two world wars that overwhelmed the first half of the 20th century. Franco-German reconciliation and peace on the continent are the fruits of this project. But the successes of the past are no longer enough, a new vision is needed to convince citizens of the validity of the European project, beyond the crisis that Europe is currently going through.
Martin Schulz also highlighted an intergovernmental drift on the part of the European Union by comparing the European Council with the Vienna Congress of 1815, where the Heads of State and Government take important, sometimes too detailed, decisions behind closed doors. If his country is successful, his representative brags about it at his own press conference; if it fails or is insufficient, it is the fault of “Brussels”.
In her speech, Micheline Calmy-Rey started from a similar observation to that of Mr Schulz, namely a profound transformation of the multipolar, globalized and interdependent world, including in the spread of risks (climate change, radioactive emissions, epidemics, financial crisis, etc.). In Europe, this has been addressed through regional, political and economic integration. But even the largest states or the European Union cannot do much on their own.
During the dialogue with the public, Martin Schulz persists and signs: a single state cannot do much in this globalised world, Switzerland will eventually realise this. Relations between Switzerland and the European Union, and in particular the negotiation of a comprehensive institutional agreement governing the 100 bilateral agreements in force, must be based on mutual respect. The European Union must respect Switzerland’s specificity, but Switzerland must also understand the European point of view that it cannot enjoy all the advantages of rapprochement without accepting some constraints linked to membership of the Union. Otherwise, some EU Member States may want to do as Switzerland does.
• Biographical note of Martin Schulz
• See the article published in the magazine « Allez savoir » of the University of Lausanne, May 2013
Partager la publication “Conférence de Martin Schulz, président du Parlement européen, avec la participation de Micheline, Calmy-Rey, ancienne présidente de la Confédération suisse