EU Constitution Revival
January 2, 2007
Germans are capable of enthusiasm. They clearly displayed that when they hosted the soccer World Cup in the summer of 2006. If only a tad of such enthusiasm flows into Germany's approach to the EU presidency, much can be achieved.
Merkel can succeed greatly if she manages to handle European politics not with scepticism and doubt, but with a positive, extroverted approach. She should motivate her European team in a manner akin to former German soccer coach Jürgen Klinsmann, who took his players all the way to the 2006 World Cup semi-final.
The stalled EU constitution desperately needs someone with that kind of enthusiasm to get it back on track. With the 50th anniversary of European unification coincidentally occurring during Germany's EU presidency tenure, Merkel and her team have a major chance to rally support for the EU treaty, and thus, for Europe's future.
Clear results
Hopefully, the Chancellor will do more than merely give nice speeches and organize multi-cultural events near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.
The European political "fan" is going to have to see clear results in the EU constitution debate in order to get enthused about the treaty. In keeping with the soccer metaphor, what is needed is scored goals rather than artful dribbling.
Europeans want to know what the constitution is to be composed of, what rules it should contain, and how it can be adopted. Two years following France and the Netherland's rejection of the constitution should be enough time to have redefined where things should go.
Little leeway
To be fair, one does have to admit that "Coach Merkel" does not have much leeway in establishing the framework.
France will elect a new president this year; Britain will gain a new prime minister this summer. No one knows how the new leaders of these two important EU countries will behave in the debate over the constitution.
The EU presidency under Germany must not only tackle the EU's constitution, it must also urgently improve ties with gas-supplier Russia, forge relationships with other possible gas-suppliers in Central Asia and take a different approach to the Middle East, from which Europe receives much of its energy.
Attitude change?
Merkel can start in her own backyard in drumming up support for Europe. Many of her ministers are against a pan-European collectivization of tasks.
The attitude tends to be along the lines of: everything bad stems from the EU bureaucracy in Brussels; everything good will be decided by Berlin. Unfortunately, this simplistic, false logic is widespread.
Six months is not much time to fulfil so many expectations. Germany will not have an easy time of it. Fanmeile (fan mile) was chosen as the German word of the year in 2006. It's unlikely that the EU constitution will gain that honor, but people should try to work toward that goal nonetheless.