The possibility of a confederal Europe

I am a geek of the European Union. As a young civil servant, he participated in the negotiation of the Treaties of Amsterdam, Nice and Lisbon. I have always been fascinated by enlargement and institutional reform. I am so supportive of the extension as of the deepening. I wrote my doctoral thesis on the flexible integration –multi-speed, variable geometry and à la carte–. I came to the conclusion that basically it is not necessary for the Member States to do everything at the same time. To my knowledge, no one else has been both a scorer and a speaker at the European Council. I’ve seen it all: crisis and drama, front door and back room, late-night negotiation marathons and last-minute decisions.

I tell you this because, when EU leaders meet in Brussels This week, the menu will be made up of the most important enlargement decisions since the end of the cold war. The decisions they make will mark the future of europe for a long time. It is less about legal technicalities and more about geopolitics and the EU’s ability to act. Enlargement must come sooner rather than later. In the meantime, we must abandon the traditional means of accession.

The attack of the Russian president Vladimir Putin a Ukraine has definitely divided Europe. On one side of the ideological fence is an isolated, authoritarian and aggressive Russia that continues to think and act in terms of spheres of interest. On the other side are 40 European States, from Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova, through the Western Balkans, to Ireland and the United Kingdom. Most of these countries believe in democracy, international law and cooperation.

“The decisions that are taken this week will mark the future of Europe for a long time. It is less about legal technicalities and more about geopolitics»

Basically, this week is about how to organize a new europe. The key is to ensure that all willing and able European democracies have a clear and realistic path to membership or, if they do not want to join, an alternative form of cooperation. There are many ways to do it. My suggestion is to create a confederal europe that it has three levels and that it is flexible and open to all European states that want to and are able to do so. These three levels are: the European Union, the European Community and the European Space.

This model is inclusive, not exclusive. The level at which a country joins will depend on its own choices and its ability to meet the criteria.

Three levels

According to this model, the European Union I would continue as is. Its institutional structure would remain the same. Decision-making would be more efficient as unanimity would not be required on all issues. The Union would become more flexible while maintaining its political focus. The EU is both a regulator and an actor. Does not have finished; it is a process. I do not see the need to convene an intergovernmental conference on this change of approach. The necessary institutional changes would be made using the so-called gateway clause.

The European Community it would consist essentially of the countries that are negotiating accession, have candidate status or have expressed their desire to join the Union. The aim would be to bring them closer to the EU’s decision-making structures and institutions from the outset. This would include the biannual meetings of the European Council, ministerial meetings and participation in Council working groups without the right to vote. These countries would have more formal links with the European Parliament and the European Commission. They should also adopt key policies from the outset, such as the European Green Deal and the Common Foreign and Security Policy.

“It’s About Uniting European Countries And Leaving Russia Out Until It Complies With Basic International Law”

The European space would include countries that are not planning to join the EU in the near future. These include the UK, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. In this case, the focus should be on economic and security cooperation, as well as closer institutional links. The leaders of the 40 countries should meet at least once a year.

Similar models have already been proposed. My goal is to speed up enlargement and create a compromise structure that attracts not only those who want and can, but also those who don’t want and can’t. It is about uniting European countries and leaving Russia out until it abides by basic international law.

Peace, prosperity and stability

Enlargement has always been about peace, prosperity and stability. Never underestimate the transformative power of membership, be it economic or political. Some EU enlargements may seem easier than others, but they all involve long and complicated negotiations.

In the EU, there have traditionally been countries that support enlargement and others that are against it. This time, there is no choice. Indecision will cause frustration and instability. There is no room for minutiae or internal politics. It is about high politics, peace and the future of Europe.

The EU must be ready to welcome more members sooner rather than later. Yes, this will mean difficult decisions and compromises. But the truth is that enlargement is the best geopolitical tool in a new European security order. The EU has the strategic autonomy and the historical obligation to participate in it. A confederal europe it would provide an instrument to do it gradually but without hesitation.

Article originally published in the Web of the ECFR.