At the end of a
\nlong process of European reflection, the city of Sibiu in central Romania
\nplayed host to an informal summit of the European Union on May 9, the day Europe
\ncelebrates the proclamation of the Schumann Declaration, which would become the
\nunderlying document of the European Union. The EU27 Summit was focused on the
\nfuture of Europe. Unity is the principle that will set the basis of this
\nfuture, according to the Declaration of Sibiu, which includes the 10
\ncommitments EU leaders have pledged to the citizens of member states regarding
\ntheir welfare and security. EU leaders have promised that Member States will be
\nunited and solidary, with a single voice, always seeking common solutions. The
\ndocument also eyes the protection of the European way of life, democracy and
\nthe rule of law and refers to one of the priorities of the Romanian Presidency
\nof the Council of the European Union, namely reducing development gaps within
\nthe EU. Europe will be a responsible global leader, continuing to work with its
\npartners to uphold a rules-based international order. The list of commitments
\nis aimed at showcasing the EU’s determination for a common future, against the
\nbackdrop of the United Kingdom leaving the EU. To what extent can these
\ncommitments meet the demands at the level of member states? Dan Carbunaru, the
\ndirector of the multimedia portal caleaeuropeana.ro, told Radio Romania:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
There are all sorts of
\nEurobarometers indicating people’s needs with respect to security, economic
\nissues and our common perception of the EU. These are drafted in all member
\nstates, in one form or another. The question is how to deliver. How can
\nEuropean institutions find solutions jointly with Member States? There were
\ncases where, in times of crisis, concerning issues pertaining to migration or
\neconomic and financial problems, Member States would blame Brussels, and in
\nturn Brussels said it did not have enough power. We must make a decision sooner
\nor later, to make this Union better, to make it deliver more and quicker on its
\npromises to the citizens. Some speak of the need for a new Treaty, while others
\nclaim the Lisbon Treaty should be further explored, but at any rate the
\ndecision rests with us. What is happening right now is not bad. Of course, we
\nwant more, we want better and faster, but all EU Member States are now on the
\nrise economically speaking. The economic and financial crisis and the wave of
\nmigrants are not as strong and no longer destabilize the continent as they once
\ndid, from south to north. There are still prospects for a better life at EU
\nlevel. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Sibiu also
\nhosted a debate on the 2019-2024 strategic agenda of the European Union, to be
\nadopted by the European Council in June. The agenda includes major objectives,
\nsuch as protecting citizens’ rights and liberties, developing the economic
\nbasis by mobilizing all relevant policies in the field, or securing a more
\neco-friendly, balanced and inclusive future, while promoting European interests
\nand values worldwide. While they may sound general, these goals were formulated
\nparticularly to allow each member state to promote and support its own
\ninterests at the negotiation table. Ahead of the summit, 21 heads of state,
\nincluding from Romania, published an open letter, which states that the
\nEuropean Union is facing severe challenges. Dan Carbunaru: <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
This initiative ensures a comfortable representation of European
\ncitizens’ interests, at least in terms of numbers. Perhaps it is also proof
\nthey are right, those who claim decision-making at EU level needs reforming.
\nRight now we find ourselves in a very peculiar situation, where both those who
\nwant to give Europe more powers as wells as those who want Europe to have less
\npowers are complaining about insufficient decision-making. Well, talks are
\nongoing in Brussels and some European capitals on this matter, over the way
\ndecisions are being made. We are now talking about a Declaration, of course,
\nbut there are other cases where important decisions have to be made by a
\nqualified majority, or even by unanimous vote in certain cases, and this has
\noften hampered Europe. It might explain why, for instance, while the Americans
\nhave for months overcome the economic crisis, Europe is still analyzing its
\neffects and hesitating which way to go. This won’t be the last crisis we’ve
\nseen. The migration crisis is now on the wane, but it can always rebound. The
\neconomic crisis too, the way capital is circulated around the world, can always
\nresurface. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
There are
\ncurrently multiple crises looming over us, Dan Carbunaru said. This is why we
\nshould have a common vision for our future, one that we can all enjoy equally. <\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
(Translated by V. Palcu)<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bucharest played host to an important Summit where the future of Europe was in the limelight<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":108,"featured_media":156121,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[43939],"tags":[44616,43746,44615,34719,44618,44617],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-156120","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-future-starts-today","tag-10-commitments","tag-decision-making","tag-declaration-of-sibiu","tag-eu-summit-in-sibiu","tag-romanian-presidency-of-the-eu","tag-unity-and-solidarity"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n