Restoration of the European dream: what does it mean for Ukraine?
In the context of the Ukraine’s European choice the prospects and problems of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement implementation are the most heated topic for discussion. But it is internal filling of bilateral and regional relations. Today a lot of people forget about the global and comprehensive context of these relations. I guess that it is very important to know and understand the leading tendencies in the Europe in order to make conclusions on our European future.
So, after the signing of the Rome Declaration on March 25, 2017, the EU member states leaders, with the exception of Great Britain, outlined new EU directions, which should become an outpost for strengthening the union. The ambitions of the new plans for a decade are awe-inspiring, but it would seem that this should have inspired the European community to re-believe in the European Union, which has not yet happened.
Let’s try to outline 3 main problems that today disintegrate Europe and prevent restarting and moreover influence the EU-Ukraine relations.
Lost solidarity
Once, the EU was a union which activity was based on solidarity between the states leaders, even in spite of the contradictions existed between them. Today, this solidarity has been dissipated in own vision of the member states of the European future. Of course, the EU is not more a post-war union, which was intended to solve urgent economic problems, to restrain Germany and rebuild Europe. The EU is a qualitatively new union, whose leaders are accustomed to thinking globally. But the very change of the regional rhetoric to the global one gives grounds for doubting Europe’s ability to ensure unity and resist European skepticism and populism.
The idea is that the global dynamic in itself would bring the EU to the forefront. But in global politics the Union shows too much solidarity, although it does not contradict with the basic idea of the EU, but diverts from significant problems – securing unity within and creating of a prosperous Europe for Europeans. In this case, “Solidarity” is a keyword that clearly demonstrates who has, for example, refugees or to pay union bills. All States.
Ukraine as all Central and East European countries do not feel this main idea. The Soviet past showed us that it was very important to have and to demonstrate force. But the EU has another history, and the leading principle is solidarity. As for me, we frequently do not estimate the greatness of European idea. That is why we need not only political and economic reforms, but something more.
Excessive federalism is the blessing or the collapse of Europe?
European leaders are too concerned about the plans of Germany and France to deepen processes of European integration, in particular to strengthen the economic and political alliance. No sooner had the Britain divorced, as the leaders of these two states started the back door negotiations on the acceleration of integration processes. And this thesis is unfounded, because on the initiative of France, Germany and Italy a meeting was held between the leaders of the four states (Spain also was invited) at the beginning of March in Paris, the main topic of which was the discussion of the concept of “multi-speed Europe” and the deepening of federalization. No wonder this event took place just after the British decision to leave the EU, because this country opposed the deepening of integration processes and the delegation of an even greater part of the sovereignty to the European structures.
It would seem that such a position of the leaders of the four states will promote the development of integration and will maintain the fundamental idea that emerged in post-war Europe. The main goal is not to lose the common European heritage. But most states believe that this will lead to disintegration and ultimately to the collapse of the European Union. The inseparable cause is the famous different vision of the European future.
The rest of the states see the threat to national sovereignty in excessive federalization, some of which they have already delegated to the EU institutions, and they consider it an optimal correlation. More means to leave your comfort zone and face new challenges that nobody needs. It should not be forgotten that the states that do not support the initiative of France, Italy, Germany and Spain were not ideological inspirators of the EU and for them Europe is a bit different. On the contrary, the founding fathers of the EU defend the position of deepening of integration processes and institutional and legal transformations, which will not only remove the stratification from a fundamental European idea, but also restore the European dream.
Another problem is that some EU countries, especially in Eastern Europe, are concerned about the desire to build a “multi-speed” Europe. That is the idea that a certain number of countries (in particular, Germany and France) will integrate at a faster rate than the rest. Countries in Eastern Europe are afraid that they will be left on the sidelines in this way.
Will it have positive consequences for Ukraine? On the one hand yes. Because our State will receive “European ticket” and this concept will permit to enlarge Europe on specific conditions without damage to the leading countries. But on the other hand, lack of consensus between States within Europe may disintegrate Union and block the further processes of deepening and enlargement.
Dissatisfied with the compromise
The Rome declaration is generally compromise, and at the same time one that seeks to satisfy everyone, but as often happens, not everyone like it. States like Poland and Greece made harsh statements and threatened even not to sign the document.
Poland emphasizes that the document should include issues of priority for each member. And where then did solidarity and unity come about? The answer is obvious: they were absorbed by national interests, but if speak more precisely, they were simply pushed to the periphery. Therefore, Poland stressed that the declaration should include issues of priority for her. Also, the emphasis was placed on the role of national governments: the current Polish authorities are concerned about Germany and France’s plans for greater European integration, in particular to strengthen the economic and political alliance. The Polish government, like other European conservative forces, seeks to increase national sovereignty rather than reinforce the EU’s “supranational” dimension.
If Poland’s position is in line with general right-wing conservative domestic policy tendencies, Greece is trying to use the situation purely for the sake of economic gain. So, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras agreed to support the Rome Declaration in exchange for the abolition of the International Monetary Fund’s demand for labor legislation.
Although this does not apply directly to the European integration processes, the main problem is quite clear: as long as states pull a blanket on themselves – the EU will not be able to work clearly and coherently, as the same “solidarity” that was discussed above is lacking.
These two examples are illustrative. Of course Ukraine has a desire to become the EU Member-State. And for the EU the lack of political re forms or weak economy are not so prominent problems. The greater one is a possibility that such country as Ukraine may become the second Greece. Frankly speaking, Ukraine is such which may follow such approach. So, Ukrainian establishment needs to review its strategic choice and make appropriate corrections. Due to last circumstances it is very important to hear and understand the European idea and build up our strategy in harmony not only with current tendencies in Europe but with the European values too.
The Rome Declaration laid the foundations for future cooperation and clearly set the priorities, but did not solve the pressing problems that arise from the different vision of the EU future and the lack of consolidation of member states on really important issues. Consequently, such a shift of the leaders of the main pioneers of European integration towards strengthening economic and political integration is well founded: they seek to preserve what is not lost – the idea of a united Europe. It is indicative that they are trying to use the EU crisis to give a new impetus to the Europe’s development by enhancing integration processes.
But will it save Europe and bring Ukraine its lucky ticket – time will show.
By Karina Rogulya
