Some festive ‘reflection’ for avoiding that Turkey

pete quentin, 17 December 2007

The EU has announced a European “reflection group” that will be active from next year to “review the EU’s long term future”. The nine member group is to be led by Felipe González (Spanish Prime Minister 1982-1996), with the former President of Latvia and President of the Finnish mobile phone giant Nokia, acting as joint Deputy Chairmen.
It seems the “wise men”, as they have been labelled, have already lost their way and are causing divisions and controversy before even getting to present their gifts.

In the UK the Conservatives have likened Gonzalez’s appointment to “opening Pandora’s box” on account of his old-style Socialist agenda, indicating that the “independent group of experts” might actually be motivated by its own highly politicised agenda. After all, the long-term purpose and character of the EU is one of the most contentious contemporary political issues.
In evidence of the controversy over this new “reflection group”, its scope has been the source of much conflict. At present the group will be allowed to consider issues relating to tackling terrorism, climate change, and social and economic challenges. However, issues such as EU financing, institutional reform and enlargement will be strictly beyond its jurisdiction. Echoing his mumbling that the “reflection group is not a priority, but we won’t stand in the way”, European Parliament President Poettering asserted that the group will make proposals but “will not take on a decision-making role.”
However, it could be argued that the very existence of the “reflection group” indicates a highly politicised agenda, demonstrating how key players in Europe are able to use the mechanisms of the EU to their advantage, providing political pressure to re-define EU borders and decisively terminate Turkish membership. For example, the group is the brainchild of French President Nicholas Sarkozy with the unofficially declared intention of providing a mechanism for establishing EU borders to exclude Turkey. With Sarkozy’s opposition to Turkey’s application in stark contrast to David Miliband’s recent battle cry assertion that “enlargement of the EU is our most powerful tool”, it is apparent that the issue of EU enlargement is highly contentious.
As further evidence Angela Merkel, who has clashed with Sarkozy over important issues such as the EU budget and choice of candidates for a new permanent EU President, managed to negotiate a delay to the “reflection group” start date, to help protect against any interference with the Lisbon Treaty. Reflection is due to commence next year…under the French Presidency.
However, politicisation of the group is not confined solely to its creation. For example Gonzalez, the group’s leader, has publicly opposed Turkish entry to the EU on the grounds of “social and cultural differences”. Turkey would be the first Muslim state admitted to the Union, with Bosnia and Herzegovina also currently undertaking the application process.
The danger is that these ‘wise men’ will always be, as Lord Salisbury’s commented on Russia, “too weak and too strong”. As a sign of its weakness, the group’s jurisdiction has already been carefully restricted, by selection rather than scope, and is therefore unlikely to produce ground-breaking visions of a new Europe. However, its existence as an additional high-profile and undemocratic body, pontificating about highly contentious issues, is sure to have all too strong an impact on broader EU policy. As such this group is likely only to increase confusion over a future direction for the union. What we really need are shepherds, not wise men.

By Claire Daley