EU to focus on ‘shaping globalisation’ after Treaty

A declaration to be endorsed by European leaders at a summit on Friday seeks to shift the debate away from institutional matters to focus the EU on ‘shaping globalisation in the interest of all citizens and business’.

While it has brought increased prosperity worldwide, “globalisation also confronts us with new economic, social, environmental, energy and security challenges,” says the draft declaration, posted on the Blogactiv website.

The text was negotiated word-for-word by diplomats from the 27 EU member states at the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) last week and approved by foreign ministers on Monday, according to François Head, press officer at the Council of Ministers. But EU leaders will still have a chance to amend the text on Friday, Head said.

The declaration’s main objective is to “turn the page” after the new EU Treaty is signed in Lisbon this week and “look to the future,” according to a source familiar with the matter.

“The Lisbon Treaty, in setting a reformed and lasting institutional framework, improves our capacity to fulfil our responsibilities,” says the draft. “We aim at shaping globalisation in the interests of all our citizens based on our common values and principles.”

To respond to those challenges, it says the Union should promote free trade and continue to develop its own internal market to deliver more jobs and growth “while ensuring a strong social dimension and respect for the environment”. 

“The European Union will press for increasingly open markets which should lead to reciprocal benefits” provided that competition is “fair” and respects “intellectual property rights”. On the internal front, it says “investment in research, innovation and education should be strengthened as a central driver for growth and jobs and to ensure that all will benefit from the opportunities of globalisation.”

On climate change and energy, the draft says the EU “will deliver” on its “very ambitious commitments” adopted in March this year to boost renewables and slash greenhouse gas emissions. “The Union insists on the need for a global and comprehensive post-2012 [global climate change] agreement involving most notably the US, Russia, China, India and Brazil.”

The EU’s role in “managing legal migration and combating illegal immigration” is also underlined, along with its “responsibility for global security and stability”. “By this, we should be able to meet the challenges and reap the benefits that well-managed migration can bring for the EU and also for third countries,” says the draft.

“Together, we will ensure that globalisation is a source of opportunity rather than a threat. For this, we will continue building a stronger Union for a better world.”

Read more with Euractiv

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