As the German Presidency prepares its road map to revive the failed EU Constitution, member states seem more divided than ever, says Philippe Herzog, a former MEP and president of Confrontations Europe, a French think-tank on EU affairs.
The 18 countries that have already adopted the EU Constitution want a 'maxi-treaty', a project bluntly rejected by the UK and Poland, while France and the Netherlands have not managed to put forward new proposals after their rejection of the Constitutional treaty.
For Philippe Herzog, a possible compromise to revive Europe should consist of institutional reforms and restructuring projects. He suggests two steps:
- First, a treaty improving the functioning of EU institutions, which should be agreed by member states by the end of 2008.
- secondly, a new Single Act of co-operation and participation, around three structuring projects: sustainable development, knowledge society and full employment.
Herzog argues that the Single Act method proved successful in 1986 in achieving the internal market, as it laid down a clear objective, an agenda on how to achieve it, and and an effective decision-making process. He says such an initiative could be taken by the Commission president, since the EU executive can play the role of moderator among member states. Herzog argues that the Commisison should force member states to co-operate, increase EU institutions' role and involve civil society.
