Rome, 13 June 2008 – “To err is human, to persist is of the devil” once said Seneca, an ancient Roman stoic philosopher and statesman. No truer words could best describe the present situation in Europe. Indeed, one of the main reasons for the failure of the European Constitution, dumped in 2005 by the French and Dutch electors, was the 380-page document written in strictly bureaucratic style that was presented to popular vote. From the original text of the "Treaty of Lisbon" which was meant to be an abridged version, several paragraphs were trimmed off making it impossible to explain in simple words the real contents.
As the Minister for European Affairs in the Government of Prodi, and as a Radical exponent, you will recall my disappointment on the compromise reached last June by the European Heads of State and Government to water-down the original text and reach a “light” version of the Treaty. Many issues, in fact too much for us Radicals, were sacrificed for the sake of politics based on practical considerations, rather than on ideological notions therefore transforming the “European project” in a complete mess with weights and counterweights, and rendering it difficult to stimulate the citizens in having a vision and carrying on a common project with zeal and ardor. Even the method was highly critical where they held closed-door negotiations all packed up in diplomatic rooms trying to reach a balanced compromise that will not displease any of the 27 Member States, but in the end had the defect of not being digestible for public opinion, simply because it is incomprehensible to the ordinary man. Distress to European institutions is inevitable in the absence of a European policy.
I sustain that “European” political parties should become genuinely european and transnational, and not the way they are today, meaning a mere juxtaposition of national political scenes. For the next European elections, we need political parties, of whatever symbol, vying for a European project instead of yet again betting on its force at the national level. Citizens’ votes need to be respected. We do not need another “pause for more reflections”.
Europe is the only place where reflections and significant events are accomplished, where decisions are taken for us. It would be more difficult to start Europe all over again today. This was the most significant achievement after the Second World War. We need the same courage and vision of Spinelli and the other authors of the Manifest for a European Federalist Movement (the Ventotene Manifest). We need to change the negotiating methods and modalities for the ratification process. The European project, the United States of Europe, could and should be achieved together with all those who share this conviction. Let us aim high and not lock ourselves internally, that would be really foolish.